TACOMA, Wash. --- Linfield women's basketball (13-2, 6-0 NWC) officially cemented the best start to a season in program history, dominating from wire-to-wire in a 59-37 win over Pacific Lutheran (1-14, 0-6 NWC). It marks the first time the Wildcats have started NWC play 6-0, winning their ninth-straight game.
 
Senior Eve Burke opened the game with a three right out of the gates, matched soon after by Amelia Solt, helping the conference-leading Wildcats to a 6-2 lead. Threes continued to rain down in Olson Gymnasium, with Alle Mead and Jordan Roberts joining the mix, while Skylar Willey got to work in the paint, 
 
Lauren Buchanan made a jumper as the shot clock turned off at the end of the first quarter, giving the 'Cats a 20-11 advantage after ten minutes. 
 
The lead would not dwindle in the second, where the first five minutes were carried by Burke and Willey, growing the lead to 29-16. Madison Barter and Tana Hoekema joined in, scoring often in the paint, the Wildcats held a dominant 37-19 lead at the half.
 
Both offenses started the second half strong, with Linfield finding contributions form up and down the bench, pushing the lead to over 20 early on. Sydney Newby and Natalie Rosetti scored the final two baskets for Linfield over the final five minutes, holding the Lutes to just two over that span; 50-27 after three.
 
The fourth was the only quarter that PLU outscored Linfield, largely in part to a 5-0 run that opened the quarter for the Lutes. Roberts, Rosetti and Ella Koebelin maintained the large lead down the stretch, meanwhile the defense held the Lutes without a score over the final 4:55. 
 
Linfield's defense stifled Pacific Lutheran throughout, allowing no more than 11 points in a quarter, allowing just 37 points, the least the 'Cats have allowed in a game this season. 
 
Taking an early lead, the offense cruised, allowing 20 different Wildcats to earn minutes in the game, 13 of which scored. Burke led as the only double-digit point scorer, dropping 13 points in 19 minutes of action, adding a team-high five rebounds and three assists. Linfield also grabbed a whopping 57 rebounds, 28 of which on the offensive glass, leading to 23 second-chance points.
 
The 'Cats are back home for one game next Friday night, hosting Yamhill county-rival George Fox Bruins at 5:30 p.m.
 
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