Jan. 14, 2007

Lutes Host the Whits; Still in Search of First Conference Victory

THIS WEEK: Pacific Lutheran (7-6, 0-4) host Whitworth, Friday, 6 p.m. PLU hosts Whitman, Saturday, 4 p.m.

LUTES LOOK TO OVERCOME SLOW START: After finishing their non-conference schedule with a 7-2 record, the PLU Lutes are off to a slow start thus far in Northwest Conference play. The Lutes are 0-4 in conference counters, though they could certainly be at least 2-2 at this stage after losing in overtime at Lewis & Clark and letting a lead slip away late in their home game against Willamette. PLU hopes to get on the winning side of the NWC ledger this weekend against the visiting Whits - Whitworth on Friday and Whitman on Saturday.

A SCHEDULE NOTE: PLU fans should take note that Saturday's women's and men's games against Whitman start two hours earlier than normal. The women tip off at 4 p.m., with the men's game scheduled to begin at about 6 p.m. This schedule, which is copied when the Lutes travel to eastern Washington later this year, accommodates the visiting teams traveling back to their home campuses.

ABOUT WHITWORTH: The Pirates come to the Parkland Plains with an 8-5 overall record, while going 3-1 in Northwest Conference play. Natalie Orrell and Alida Bower lead Whitworth in scoring both averaging more than 13 points a game. The Pirates have won four of their last five games, including three wins over NWC opponents.

ABOUT WHITMAN: Along with nationally ranked George Fox, Whitman (10-3, 4-0) is the only undefeated team in NWC action. The Missionaries are undefeated against Division III opponents this season, their three losses coming at the hands of NAIA and Division II institutions. The Whitman team is very deep, averaging over 65 points a game as a team with no individual players averaging above 10 points per game.

ALL-TIME SERIES WITH THE WHITS: The Lutes hold the advantage against both schools in the all-time series. PLU first met both teams in the 1981 season. PLU has won 28 games against each school with Whitman taking 22 from the Lutes while Whitworth has topped PLU 21 times. Last season, the Missionaries swept the Lutes in their two matchups by 63-52 and 67-55 scores. Whitworth and PLU each won on their home court last year, the Lutes by a 72-57 count and Whitworth by a 63-60 score.

WILLAMETTE RALLIES, TOPS PLU: The Willamette Bearcats rallied from a 12-point deficit in the final six minutes of the game to defeat Pacific Lutheran, 67-64, last Saturday night in Olson Auditorium. Both teams came into the game looking for their first conference win. The first half was close until Kyle Haag drained two three-pointers to put the Lutes up, 16-11. The Bearcats battled back and pulled within one, 22-21, off a three ball by Laura Payne. Battling back and forth, the two teams went into the locker room with PLU up, 36-34. The Lutes shot well in the first half, making 16-of-24 field goals. Individually, Haag made 4-of-5 from behind the arc. The Lutes began to pull away in the second half after two consecutive threes by Amy Spieker put PLU on top, 62-52. Emily Voorhies made a layup to give the Lutes a 12-point lead, but the Bearcats rallied back. The final six minutes of the game saw Willamette go on a 15-0 run, including a three-pointer by Molly Fillion that gave the Bearcats their first lead since the 16:57 mark in the first half. Clutch free throws by Fillion gave the Bearcats a 67-64 lead with eight seconds to go. Trinity Gibbons put up a last second three ball that would have forced overtime but it spun around the inside of the rim and out. Pacific Lutheran was 11-of-34 from the field in the second half. The Achilles heel for the Lutes was their free throw shooting as they were 3-of-12 during the game. Kyle Haag was the top scorer for PLU with 16 points. Amy Spieker also had a good game, making 3-of-4 three pointers and scoring 13 points.

- PLU -