Jan. 26, 2008

Lutes Defeat Pacific, Earn Fourth Straight Victory

Box Score

Trinity Gibbons - point guard snares 14 rebounds

FOREST GROVE - Kyle Haag and Amy Spieker combined for nine three-point field goals to lead Pacific Lutheran to its fourth straight win, a 67-53 Northwest Conference victory over the host Pacific Boxers on Saturday night.

Pacific Lutheran (11-6 overall, 4-4 NWC) shot 43 percent (26-for-60) from the floor, compared to Pacific's 31 percent (19-for-61). What was more impressive, however, was the Lutes' long-range shooting as they finished the game making 50 percent (10-for-20) from three-point range, while the Boxers (2-14 overall, 1-7 NWC) were 31 percent (6-for-19) on three-point attempts.

Haag finished the game as the Lutes leading scorer with 17 points, including a 5-for-9 three-point effort, to go along with seven rebounds and two assists. Haag has made 17 three-point shots on 31 attempts, 55 percent, in the past three games. Spieker continued her solid play of late, finishing with 14 points, while point guard Trinity Gibbons dominated the boards with 14 rebounds.

Pacific was ahead for the first few minutes until it relinquished a two-point lead at 14:54 on a three-pointer by Haag, putting the Lutes up 9-8. By the end of the half, Pacific Lutheran had extended its lead to 38-24.The Lutes enjoyed a dominant first half from behind the arc, shooting 58 percent (7-for-12) from three-point range, with four of those baskets coming from Haag.

Pacific Lutheran's lead was cut to seven with 6:46 on a three-pointer by Amy Pedersen, but Haag answered back immediately with a three-pointer of her own to keep the Lutes in the driver's seat.

(Courtesy of Pacific University Sports Information Office)