McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Linfield used a dominant second half to overcome an early deficit and secure a 65-59 victory over the Redlands Bulldogs, improving to 7-0 on the season, the best start in program history.
Redlands suffocated the Linfield offense in the first half, allowing just two points in the second quarter and holding a 24-17 advantage at the break. However, the Wildcats turned the tide in the second half with a 29-point surge in the fourth quarter., propelled by some clutch free throw shooting.
Despite a slow start, the Wildcats were able to capitalize on turnovers and hit critical shots when needed.
Eve Burke was instrumental in the comeback, contributing a team high 19 points and leading the Wildcats with several crucial rebounds. Her free throws in the final minutes sealed the victory for Linfield.
The Wildcats benefitted from a solid performance by
Allie Mead, who had 11 points, including two steals.
Gillyan Landis and
Amelia Solt also played significant roles, with Landis contributing a key jumper late in the game, counting for two of her 13 points and Solt distributing the ball with ease, tallying seven assists.
Miki Vermeulen also made her presence felt with 11 rebounds, two blocks, five assists and three points. The Wildcats dominated on the boards, collecting 43 rebounds compared to Redlands' 33.
After trailing by as many as nine points in the third quarter, Linfield used a combination of strong defense and timely shooting to build a late-game lead. The Wildcats hit 19 free throws out of 24 attempts, maintaining their composure down the stretch. Their resilience earned them the win, as they held off a late Redlands rally.
The victory marks Linfield's best start in history at 7-0 with only two games remaining until Northwest Conference play begins.
For the Bulldogs, AJ Wick had nine points and 12 rebounds, while Leila Hosn contributed 14 points. However, despite a strong individual performance, Redlands was unable to capitalize on its early momentum.