TACOMA, Wash. – Linfield was held without a double-digit scorer in a 51-38 loss at Olson Gymnasium against Pacific Lutheran on Saturday evening.
Miki Vermeulen and
Eve Burke each finished with nine points each.
Gillyan Landis tallied eight points and seven rebounds while Vermeulen tied a game-high with eight rebounds. Linfield was held to below 30 percent shooting for the second time this season, finishing with a season-low 26 percent from the field. The Wildcats (10-9, 5-5 NWC) combined for only 1-16 from behind the arc.
Sydney Reisner tallied a game-high 15 points with teammate Kasidy Javernick adding 11 points. Pacific Lutheran (10-9, 2-8 NWC) shot 28 percent on 56 attempts and made 6-16 three-point attempts. The Lutes finished with a 22-7 bench points advantage.
The Wildcats struggled in the first 10 minutes, only converting on 2-16 shots from the field and falling behind by eight. Linfield was held under double-digit points again in the second quarter and faced a 32-14 deficit at halftime. Linfield made only five shots from the field and shot 25 percent or lower in the first 20 minutes.
The 'Cats put together their best quarter coming out of halftime, exploding for 17 points and clawing back within six of PLU. Linfield's positive momentum couldn't carry over into the fourth quarter as the team only scored seven points in the final period on 21 percent shooting. The Lutes' victory is their first over the Wildcats since the 2021-22 season.
COMING UP
The Wildcats are back in Tacoma on Friday against Puget Sound with tip-off scheduled for 6 p.m.