Jan. 8, 2008

Lutes Unable to Maintain Strong Start, Fall to Loggers

Melissa Richardson - 9 rebounds

Box Score

TACOMA, Wash. - Hot-shooting Pacific Lutheran surged to an early 10-point lead, but struggled on offense in the second half in dropping a 66-52 Northwest Conference women's basketball game to the Puget Sound Loggers on Tuesday night at Memorial Fieldhouse.

The Lutes (7-5 overall, 0-3 conference) found the range early in the game, riding four three-point field goals by Kyle Haag to a 21-11 lead less than 10 minutes into the first half. Puget Sound responded with an 8-0 run to cut its deficit to two points, but the Lutes surged again, taking a 28-21 advantage on a jumper by Trinity Gibbons with 4:51 left in the half. Gibbons hit another jumper with 20 second left to put the Lutes on top, 34-32, at the intermission. At that point, the Lutes were 14-of-24 from the field, or 58 percent.

As well as the Lutes shot the ball in the first half, however, their marksmanship was lacking in the final 20 minutes. In addition to making just 7-of-24 in the half, including missing all five of their three-point tries, the Lutes also turned the ball over 15 times in the final period. That allowed the Loggers (9-3 overall, 2-1 in conference) to gradually pull away for the win. Morgan Harter hit a three-point shot to give the Loggers a 41-38 lead with 13:29 remaining, and they never again trailed. Nikki Scott hit a jumper to pull the Lutes to within two points at 46-44 with 10:14 remaining, but the Loggers finally broke the game open with a 14-2 run over the next five minutes.

Haag led the Lutes in scoring with 16 points, 12 of those coming in the opening half, but she was the only PLU player to finish in double figures. PLU won the rebounding battle, 44-38, led by Melissa Richardson's nine board, but the Lutes committed 28 turnovers compared to just eight for Puget Sound. PLU ended up shooting 44 percent for the game, making 21-of-48 from the field.

Marissa Cain was one of four UPS players to finish in double figures, leading the way with 18 points. She was joined by Claire Ely and Laura Hirsh with 12 each and Karen Chase with 11. Cain also led the hosts with eight rebounds. The Loggers shot 32 percent from the field but made 14-of-16 free throws, outscoring the Lutes by nine points from the charity stripe.

Pacific Lutheran returns to action at 6 p.m. Saturday when it hosts the Willamette Bearcats in another Northwest Conference contest.

- PLU -