McMINNVILLE, Ore. — In a thrilling Northwest Conference showdown, Linfield staged an incredible comeback to defeat Pacific Lutheran 64-53 on Saturday night at Ted Wilson Gymnasium. Trailing by as many as 10 points in the third quarter, Linfield rallied behind a dominant fourth-quarter performance to secure the victory and improve to 17-4 overall and 8-4 in conference play.
The Wildcats struggled early, shooting just 23.5% from the field in the first quarter and trailing 14-11 after the opening period. Pacific Lutheran extended its lead in the second quarter, thanks to a strong performance from Sydney Reisner, who finished with a game-high 17 points. By halftime, the Lutes held a 26-19 advantage, leaving Linfield with an uphill battle.
However, the Wildcats found their rhythm in the second half.
Gillyan Landis led the charge, scoring 14 points and grabbing six rebounds, while
Miki Vermeulen added 11 points, including a crucial 3-pointer in the third quarter that cut the deficit to 36-33. Linfield's defense also stepped up, forcing 17 turnovers and holding PLU to just 35.8% shooting from the field.
The fourth quarter was where Linfield truly shined. Trailing 38-37 entering the final period, the Wildcats exploded for 27 points, outscoring PLU by 11.
Tana Hoekema was instrumental in the comeback, scoring 12 points, including a key 3-pointer that gave Linfield a 42-40 lead with 8:40 remaining.
Allie Mead also played a pivotal role, dishing out six assists and scoring eight points, including a pair of free throws in the final seconds to seal the win.
"I think one of the big contributors to our comeback tonight was our defense," said head coach
Casey Bunn-Wilson. "We turned up the intensity which led to some fast break opportunities. The team really pulled together and battled for each other down the stretch. PLU played a great game, they shot the ball well. It was a really gritty win for us."
Linfield's bench depth proved to be a difference-maker, contributing 19 points compared to PLU's 15. The Wildcats also dominated in the paint, outscoring the Lutes 32-20, and capitalized on second-chance opportunities, scoring 14 points off turnovers.
The victory marks Linfield's 17
th and keeps them in contention for a top spot in the NWC standings.
For Pacific Lutheran, the loss drops them to 7-14 overall and 4-8 in conference play. Despite the defeat, Reisner's 17 points and Taylor Schmidtke's eight points and three assists were bright spots for the Lutes.
NEXT
Linfield looks to get a winning streak rolling on Friday night when it visits Willamette in Salem for an 8 p.m. tip.