McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Paige Graham connected on five three-pointers and finished with a game-high 20 points, helping the Linfield Wildcats secure a solid 69-59 women's basketball victory Tuesday night at Ted Wilson Gymnasium.
 
How it played out
Northwest enjoyed a five-point lead following Kalee Fowler's bucket at the 5:52 mark of the first quarter. The tables soon turned after that as Graham scored the final four points of the period and Linfield took a 19-14 advantage.
 
The Wildcats never trailed after that, owning a 34-23 lead by intermission, a cushion that eventually grew to 23 points by the fourth quarter. Graham's rebound and subsequent three-pointer with 7:28 to play stretched the margin to 59-36.
 
Linfield lines
Graham swished 4 of 6 three-point attempts in the second half, mostly from the corners, and the Wildcats cruised for much of the second half in the team's final nonconference tuneup before Northwest Conference play resumes in earnest.
 
Kory Oleson hit 8 of 16 shots on her way to 17 points. Graham added six rebounds and two assists while Audrey McMillan worked free for 11 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Bailey McDevitt contributed eight points on 4 of 9 shooting. Point guards Jade Everage and Erin Burns both passed out six assists. Burns added two steals and three rebounds.
 
Linfield shot .458 from the field compared to Northwest's .303. But the Eagles were sharper at the free throw line, hitting at an .889 clip. Linfield hit .563, hitting just 3 of 8 from the stripe in the second half.
 
The Wildcats were better on the backboards, though, outrebounding the visitors from Kirkland, Washington, 49-32, including a 24-14 disparity in the first half.
 
Northwest by the numbers
Fowler scored 17 points and added three rebounds and two steals to pace the Eagles. Mariah Stacona scored 15 points, though she struggled through a 4-for-23 shooting performance. Hannah Carlson added 13 points and Andie Kristinat had nine points and six rebounds.
 
Where they stand
Linfield halted a two-game slide, moving to 5-6 for the season. With its second straight loss, Northwest dropped to 5-10.
 
Ahead
Linfield dives back into NWC play Wednesday night with a home contest against Willamette. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. with live videocast coverage on the Linfield Sports Network starting at 5:50.