PORTLAND, Ore. – Linfield led Warner Pacific 32-31 at intermission but the Wildcats couldn't sustain their advantage in the second half, falling 74-68 to Warner Pacific Wednesday night at Bart Valentine Court.
 
How it played out
Spotty free throw shooting (16 of 27) plus 29 turnovers proved to be Linfield's undoing. Warner Pacific converted 68 percent of its charity tosses (24 of 36) and turned the ball over 11 fewer times.
 
WPC led 17-15 after one quarter. Two free throws by Paige Graham with 14 seconds left before intermission gave the 'Cats a one-point lead heading to the locker room.
 
The game was decided early in the fourth quarter when the Knights went on an 8-0 run to turn a 50-47 lead into a commanding 61-50 differential.
 
A late three-pointer by Graham with less than 20 seconds to play cut the margin to four points, 72-68, but free throws by Darbi Pink iced the game in the home team's favor.
 
Linfield lines
Graham and Molly Danielson each had 16 points. Genna Hughes scored 12 points and collected a team-best four rebounds, Audrey McMillan added nine points, two assists and two blocked shots, and Bailey McDevitt chipped in nine points off the bench.
 
The Wildcats shot 60 percent from the field and outrebounded the Knights 28-25. With Danielson and McDevitt working the ball inside, Linfield owned a 38-28 edge in points in the paint.
 
Danielson scored 14 of her 16 points in the second half, going 4-for-4 from the field and 6-of-8 at the free throw line.
 
Warner Pacific totals
Bailey Allen scored a game-high 21 points to pace the Knights. Grace Prom hit 6 of 7 shots on her way to 16 points. Pink had 11 points. Allen, Prom and Pink all recorded four steals in the game.
 
Where they stand
The loss dropped Linfield to 4-5 for the season. Warner Pacific raised its record to 5-7.
 
Next
Linfield hosts Augustana College of Illinois Saturday at 5 p.m. at Ted Wilson Gym in the final nonconference tilt before the Christmas break.