TACOMA, Wash. --- Linfield women's basketball (12-2, 5-0 NWC) claimed sole possession of the Northwest Conference's top spot, chopping down the Puget Sound Loggers (11-3, 4-1 NWC), 65-56, in Tacoma. Junior forward Skylar Willey recorded a career-high 10 rebounds paired with 12 points for the double-double. The win marks Linfield's best start to a season in program history, including their 5-0 record in NWC play, matching the best-ever start against conference opponents.
 
Allie Mead sank the first basket of the game on Linfield's second possession, putting the Wildcats ahead of the Loggers early. Entering the game tied for the best records in the Northwest Conference, both Linfield and Puget Sound began the game at 11-2 overall and 4-0 in conference play.
 
Puget Sound responded with a 7-0 run, taking a five-point lead at home. Jordan Roberts and Miki Vermeulen made a pair of buckets to keep Linfield within striking distance, before Amelia Solt and Lauren Buchanan drained threes to make it 17-13 Loggers after the opening quarter. 
 
Roberts made the first five points of the second quarter for Linfield, executing an and-one make it a one-point game. Minutes late Solt found her second three of the game, giving Linfield a 22-21 lead with 6:47 left in the half; Linfield's first lead since the opening points of the game. 
 
After the Loggers answered with a three of their own to regain the lead, the Wildcats held the Loggers to just two points over the final four minutes, going on an 11-2 run to end the first half on top, 33-28. 
 
Coming out of the half, Eve Burke made a three on the first possession, extending the 'Cats lead to as many as eight, one of two times they did so in the third quarter. An 8-0 run by Puget Sound tied the game up at 40-40 with 4:22 left in the third, then Mead connected with Skylar Willey in the paint to regain the Linfield lead on the ensuing possession.
 
Another 6-0 run gave the Loggers a 46-43 lead after the third quarter, outscoring the 'Cats by eight in the quarter.
 
The fourth and final quarter was scoreless for the first 85-seconds, until Vermeulen sank a pair of free throws to cut the deficit to just one. Willey and Mead made a couple of baskets inside to take the lead again at 49-48, then Solt added a clutch three to extend the lead. The run ended at 7-0 at the five-minute media timeout, when Puget Sound made two free throws to keep Linfield's lead within one score. 
 
Mead answered back, going 2-2 from the free throw line, followed by yet another three ball from Solt, Linfield captured a 57-50 lead with 4:10 to play. Burke added a three of her own after Solt earned a steal on the defensive end. The 'Cats found their largest lead of the game once Burke sank a free throw to go up 63-54 inside of two minutes left in the game.
 
Linfield held on down the stretch thanks to lockdown defense, earning their eighth-straight win, 65-56, over the NWC-leading Loggers. With the win, the Wildcats move into sole possession of first place in the conference, tying their best NWC start (5-0, 1999-200). 
 
Roberts, Solt and Willey all led the team with 12 points, with Willey's career-high 10 rebounds earned her the double-double. Each of Solt's points came from beyond the arc, shooting 50% from three while also grabbing three steals and three assists. Linfield out-shot Puget Sound from the field, but the difference was Linfield's 20 turnovers forced and 25 points off of turnovers. 
 
Women's basketball wraps up the road trip as well as five games in eight days tomorrow afternoon across Tacoma, taking on the Pacific Lutheran Lutes at 3 p.m.
 
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. 
 
  Read Full Article