FOREST GROVE, Ore. – In the Northwest Conference opener, the Pacific Boxers defeated the Linfield Wildcats 68-64, as
Molly Danielson grabbed career-high 20 rebounds and scored 21 points for the Wildcats.
This was the first career 20-point, 20-rebound game for Danielson and just the fifth time in program history that a player grabbed 20 or more rebounds in a game. The senior forward from Beaverton, Oregon, now leads the NWC in points per game with an average of 18.3 and is second in rebounds, averaging 12.
Pacific led this one 36-32 at the break, but there were nine lead changes through the first 20 minutes and just two in the second half. The Boxers improve to 7-3 on the season and 1-0 in NWC play.
The Wildcats outscored the Boxers 19-13 in the third quarter and took a 54-51 lead in the fourth quarter on a three-pointer by
Jordyn Feinauer, but Pacific went on a 14-4 run to hold on and win this one.
The Wildcats shot 58.3 percent in the first half, while Danielson was 6 for 9 from the field in the first half. Linfield shot just 26.5 percent in the second half, including just 20 percent in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats fall to 6-4 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
Pacific's Courtney Carolan led both teams in scoring on the night with 24 points and 11 rebounds. The Boxers grabbed 16 offensive rebounds and came up with 14 second chance points off of those offensive rebounds.
Kory Oleson scored 21 points for the second game in a row, she also had two blocks. She shot 8 for 10 from the free-throw line, she came into the game shooting 89 percent on the season, which led the Northwest Conference and was in the top-25 nationally.
Cassidy Schutz and
Shasta Lofgren added five points each from the bench. The Wildcats were able to score 64 points against a Boxers' defense that allowed just 57.7 points coming into the game, which was second fewest in the conference.
Freshman guard
Paige LaFountain made her first career start on Friday night. She scored four points, four rebounds and two assists.
UP NEXT
The Linfield Wildcats host the George Fox Bruins on Saturday night, with tipoff scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday's game is Young Cats Club Night, all boys and girls under the age of 17 will receive free T-shirts and have the opportunity to get postgame autographs with select Wildcats.