Nov. 24, 2007

Lutes Rally Late to Defeat Northwest, 59-56

Box Score

Trinity Gibbons - 14 points leads PLU

KIRKLAND, Wash. - Pacific Lutheran rallied from a 10-point deficit in the final seven minutes to defeat host Northwest University, 59-56, in a non-conference women's basketball game played Saturday night.

The Lutes, 2-1 this season, trailed 53-43 after Northwest's Brittany Bowsher hit a pair of free throws with 6:55 remaining in the game. PLU battled back and pulled even at 56-56 on Trinity Gibbons' jumper with 1:52 on the clock. Melissa Richardson hit a free throw with 1:17 left to give the Lutes a 57-56 lead, their first since the first half.

In the closing minute, Northwest missed two shots and turned the ball over once while PLU got a pair of solo free throws from Amanda Tschauner, including the game's final point with six seconds to play. When Rachel Travis missed a three-point try at the buzzer, the Lutes had their 19th consecutive win over the Eagles.

Northwest scored the game's first seven points, but PLU rallied to take a 13-12 advantage on Nikki Scott's jumper at the 7:49 mark of the opening period. Leading 27-25 at the intermission, the host Eagles nailed a pair of three-point field goals to take an eight-point lead, forcing the Lutes to play catch up throughout the second half.

Gibbons led the Lutes with 14 points and she also added seven rebounds and five assists. Emily Voorhies had her third straight strong game off the bench with 10 points and seven rebounds in 17 minutes. Trish Buckingham added nine points and six rebounds for PLU, which won despite shooting just 31 percent from the field and 16 percent from three-point range. PLU did win the rebound battle by a 49-39 margin, including 22 offensive boards.

Bowsher had game-high scoring honors for Northwest with 21 points, 16 coming in the second half. Chelsea Drivstuen added 18, including 13 in the first half, for the Eagles. Northwest shot a little better than PLU, making 35 percent of its field goals and 37 percent from three-point land.

Pacific Lutheran opens the home portion of its schedule at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 27, when it hosts Warner Pacific in Olson Auditorium.

- PLU -