Dec. 18, 2007

Shooting Woes Hurt Lutes in 56-37 Defeat to Saints

Melissa Richardson - 12 rebounds

Box Score

LACEY, Wash. - Saint Martin's forced Pacific Lutheran into 21 turnovers and 26 percent shooting for the game as the NCAA Division II Saints defeated the Lutes, 56-37, in a non-conference women's basketball game played Tuesday night at the SMU Pavilion.

The Lutes (5-2) led only once in the game, that coming on a Trinity Gibbons jumper to open the scoring. That was to be PLU's only points in the first 9 1/2 minutes of the game as the Saints (6-1) went on a 12-0 run. The Lutes managed to pull within three points, 12-9, on a three-point field goal by Kyle Haag with 9:34 left in the opening period, but the host Saints eventually led 24-13 at halftime.

Pacific Lutheran cut its deficit to single digits only once in the second half, than on Nikki Scott's steal and layup with 18:27 to play. After that, the Saints never led by less than 10 points.

PLU had a strong defensive effort of its own, holding the Saints to 36 percent shooting and forcing 17 turnovers. The game wasn't in doubt in the second half, however, as the deep Saint Martin's roster split the minutes against a 10-player PLU team that was missing forward Trish Buckingham. The senior starter suffered an ankle injury the previous day in practice and is out indefinitely.

Jamey Gelhar, a 5-5 sophomore guard, led the Saints with 12 points and seven rebounds while playing 33 minutes. Krissy Bassett came off the bench to contribute 11 points and six boards for the winners.

Gibbons scored 10 points to finish as the Lutes' only player in double figures. Melissa Richardson led all players with 12 rebounds, including eight on the offensive end, and Emily Voorhies added 11 boards. Scott had a solid game off the bench for the Lutes with seven points and four steals in 23 minutes.

- PLU -