MCMINNVILLE, Ore. --- Linfield women's basketball (1-0) captured a win in their first game of the season, taking down the Northwest Eagles, 81-63, inside Ted Wilson Gymnasium.
 
Miki Vermeulen got the scoring started, sinking one of two free throws on the Wildcats first possession of the game, before Northwest took a 4-1 lead shortly after. An 8-0 run capped off by an Allie Mead bucket gave Linfield a 9-4 lead halfway through the first. The 'Cats would never trail for the remainder of the game. Jordan Roberts and Amelia Solt closed out the scoring in the first, with Solt's three putting Linfield up 17-11 through the opening 10-minutes.
 
A short scoring drought to begin the second quarter was ended by Tana Hoekama and Eve Burke, giving Linfield a comfortable 10-point lead with 7:19 remaining. The Eagles cut it to a nine-point deficit a pair of times, although Solt and Mead halted any further damage. Burke capped off the scoring in the first half, with her lay-in with 10-seconds left made it 33-22 Wildcats at the break. 
 
Both teams traded threes in the first minute of the third, leading to Burke and Vermeulen combining for a 6-0 run to put the 'Cats up 16 halfway through the third. Jayden Ray executed an and-one opportunity, while Jordan Roberts jumper and Mead gave Linfield a 56-40 lead with 10-minutes remaining.
 
In the final quarter, Northwest scored eight-points in the opening 94-seconds, cutting the deficit to just nine. Skylar Willey made Linfield's next three buckets, followed by Solt and Mead going back-to-back from beyond the arc to climb back out to a comfortable lead. The 'Cats largest lead of the game came with 2:29 left in the game, thanks to an offensive takeover by Mead. Logan Roberts ended the game with a 4-0 run by herself, giving Linfield an 81-63 victory in the season opener at home. 
 
Allie Mead led the way with 16-points, eight assists, and four rebounds, shooting 7-12 from the field. The junior also led all scorers with four steals in the game. Eve Burke, Amelia Solt, and Skylar Willey also tallied double-digit scoring. Senior Miki Vermeulen grabbed a career-high 17 rebounds, nearly half of the team's total. Linfield outshot Northwest from the field and beyond the arc, helping maintain their lead throughout the final three quarters. 
 
The Wildcats head to southern Texas for the East Texas Baptist Tournament next weekend, set to face off against three teams in four days. 
 
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