TACOMA, Wash. – Linfield outscored Puget Sound in three of four quarters Friday night at Memorial Fieldhouse, but an ugly second quarter came back to haunt the Wildcats in a 65-61 Northwest Conference defeat.
 
The Wildcats and Loggers entered Friday's game fighing for the No. 4 spot in the NWC standings, each with matching 5-7 conference records. Puget Sound avenged a double-digit loss to Linfield at Ted Wilson Gym in January.
 
Jamie Lange's layup with nine seconds remaining provided the winning points for Puget Sound. Elizabeth Prewitt tacked on a couple of insurance free throws with five seconds to play, enabling the Loggers to move a game in front of the Wildcats with three contests left on the schedule.
 
Linfield line score
Hitting 8 of 12 shots, Oleson finished the night with 17 points and 11 rebounds. She added two assists, one blocked shot and a steal. Paige Graham totaled nine points, Erin Burns added eight and Genna Hughes and Jade Everage both contributed seven.
 
Puget Sound summary
Three Loggers reached double figures in scoring. Lange netted 15 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Fitzgerald had 14 points and Prewitt chipped in with 13 points and five rebounds. Kirstin Hafeman passed out five assists off the bench.
 
1st Half
On the strength of six points by Oleson, Linfield led 18-13 after one quarter. But the Loggers awoke in the second stanza, outscoring the Wildcats 18-4. Linfield went the last 5:06 of the quarter without scoring a point, trailed 31-22, and committed turnovers on six consecutive possessions to close the half.
 
Jade Everage led Linfield with seven points. Oleson collared six rebounds during the first 20 minutes. The 'Cats all five of their three-point attempts prior to intermission.
 
2nd Half
Puget Sound pushed its lead to as many as 10 points in the third quarter, 45-35, on Claire Fitzgerald's two free throws.
 
The 'Cats refused to quit, outscoring the hosts 12-4, to take a one-point lead, 53-52, on a layup by Molly Danielson. The Loggers eventually recaptured the lead, but a three-point play by Oleson with 11 seconds left knotted the score at 61.
 
Next
Linfield returns to Ted Wilson Gym for its final home game, hosting the Lewis & Clark Pioneers Saturday at 4 p.m. The Wildcats' three seniors, Everage, Paige Graham and Genna Hughes, will be honored prior to tipoff.