FOREST GROVE, Ore. --- Linfield women's basketball (4-1, 1-0 NWC) opened Northwest Conference play with a dominant 91-64 win over the Pacific Boxers (4-2, 0-1 NWC) on Sunday afternoon, scoring the most points in a single NWC game since 2019.
 
Amelia Solt put Linfield up 2-0 early in the game, executing a layup one-minute into the game. Pacific was able to tie it up at 2-2, for the only time the Boxers tied the game, never leading across 40-minutes. Mead solo 6-0 run over 52-seconds gave the Wildcats a six-point lead. 
 
Jayden Ray, Miki Vermeulen, and Natalie Rosetti got on the stat sheet, as their buckets gave Linfield a 16-10 lead at the end of the first quarter. Eve Burke's first basket of the game came on the first possession of the second quarter, sinking a three that extended the lead to nine. The senior made it a 14-point lead after sinking another three just minutes later. Four-different Wildcats contributed to a 9-0 run after Pacific cut the lead to just eight, helping Linfield take a comfortable 41-26 lead into halftime.
 
Although the Boxers scored the first basket of the second half, Tana Hoekema and Allie Mead went on a 5-0 run over 22-seconds, giving Linfield their largest lead of the game thus far at 18. Burke, Vermeulen, and Lauren Buchanan rained home threes halfway through the quarter, while the 'Cats defense stymied the Boxers efforts. Burke continued to stuff the stat sheet to end the quarter, executing an and-one opportunity before sinking a last-second lay-in following a steal by Solt. 
 
Burke began the final quarter with two more buckets, giving Linfield a 22-point cushion. Hoekema, Ray, and Buchanan also drilled threes to push the lead to 28, Linfield's largest of the game and the season. The 'Cats final bucket came with 2:25 remaining in the game, giving Linfield a huge 91-64 win for their most points scored in an NWC game since 2019. 
 
Burke stole the show, scoring a career-high 25-points, adding six rebounds and two assists in just 30-minutes played. Burke also starred on defense, grabbing a career-best and team-high four steals. The entire starting five notched double-digit points, with Hoekema having a team-high seven rebounds and Mead dished the most assists with five. 
 
As a team, Linfield shot 53% from the field, and an impressive 61% from beyond the arc. The 'Cats protected the ball, forcing 17 Boxer turnovers to Linfield's 10, leading to 23 points off of turnovers. 
 
The Wildcats are back inside Ted Wilson Gymnasium this Friday at 5 p.m., set to host No. 3-ranked UW-Oshkosh. 
 
To follow Linfield Wildcats coverage all season long, visit golinfieldwildcats.com. Please consider following Linfield Athletics on Facebook, and @LinfieldSports on Instagram and X.com. 
 
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