KIRKLAND, Wash. – The Linfield women's basketball team got off to a six-point lead in the first quarter but were outscored by Northwest (Wash.) 36-21 in the second half to take a 64-47 loss Friday night at Kristi Brodin Pavilion.
 
The Wildcats led 16-11 after the first quarter, but the Eagles found their rhythm in the second to take a 28-26 lead into halftime. It was all Northwest in the second half as the Eagles dropped 23 in the third quarter and 13 in the fourth to improve to 7-2 on the season. The 'Cats scored just six points in the fourth quarter.
 
Northwest struggled to make shots in the first quarter, making just 4 of 14 field goal attempts. The Eagles got hot after that, connecting on 50 percent in the second quarter, 55.56 percent in the third and 41.67 percent in the fourth to close it out. They scored 32 points in the paint and 17 points off 20 Linfield turnovers.
 
Three starters scored in double figures for Northwest. Grace Meza dropped a game-high 15 points, making 6 of 9 from the field and 3 of 5 from three-point range. Sam VanLoo just missed a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds to go with three assists and a block while Livi Lindsey had 11 points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals.
 
The 'Cats shot well in the first three quarters, shooting 41.18 percent in the first, 44.44 percent in the second and 50 percent in the third. They made just 2 of 10 field goal attempts in the fourth. Three of their six three-pointers were made in the third quarter.
 
Freshman forward Gillyan Landis was the lone Wildcat to score in double digits, dropping 13 points on 5 of 10 shooting, including 3 of 6 from beyond the arc. She also finished with three rebounds, an assist, a block and a steal. Landis has scored in double figures in seven games this season. Junior forward Alexis Heald just missed double figures with nine points to go with four rebounds and a pair of assists while freshman guard Emma Schmerbach scored seven points. Schmerbach and junior guard Kaylee Schow led the team with six rebounds apiece.
 
NEXT
The 'Cats fell to 0-10 on the season with the non-conference loss. They will return to Northwest Conference play in Eastern Washington after the new year, playing at Whitman on Jan. 7 and at Whitworth on Jan. 8.