WALLA WALLA, Wash. --- Linfield women's basketball (17-3, 10-1 NWC) overcame a deficit late to force overtime against the reigning NWC champion Whitman Blues (15-6, 10-2 NWC), coming up short, 58-53.
 
Whitman stole the opening tip, and grabbed an early 2-0 lead on the first possession of the game. Eve Burke scored each of the first four points for Linfield, each of which at the free throw line, tying it up at 4-4. An over three-minute scoring drought that was riddled with turnovers on both ends showed the low-scoring defensive battle the two teams were in for.
 
Burke ended the drought with her and Linfield's sixth point, taking their first lead of the game, extended by Amelia Solt on the next possession, 9-4 Wildcats. Whitman would knot the game up at 11-11, but Tana Hoekema's late bucket gave the 'Cats a 14-11 lead after one.
 
With buckets hard to come by for both teams and top defenses in the Northwest Conference, Jayden Ray and Skylar Willey helped Linfield maintain a one-possession lead for the majority of the second quarter. The Blues tied the game up late in the quarter, then ended with a 4-0 run in the final minute to lead 25-24 at the break.
 
Solt drained another three early in the second half to help Linfield regain the lead once again, extended to five by Miki Vermeulen, making to back-to-back threes for the Wildcats. The lead grew to as many as seven in the quarter, a game-high for Linfield, but yet again Whitman ended with a 4-0 run to cut it to 36-34 'Cats with ten to play.
 
That Blues run would trickle into the fourth, ending up at 10-0 to give the home team a 40-36 lead early in the quarter. Burke made the Wildcats only basket from the field in the first 8:50 of the final quarter, but with the Blues in foul trouble, the 'Cats made good use of their trips to the free throw line to hang close. Eve Burke scored her tenth point with 1:10 to go in the game, sinking a driving layup to tie it up at 48-48 and force overtime with the reigning NWC champions.
 
It was all Blues to start the overtime period, storming out to a five-point lead that Linfield would not come back from. Linfield made five free throws as their only points over the five minutes, four of which by Burke, but falling 58-53 in Walla Walla.
 
An off-day shooting for the offense, shooting just 23% from the field, the defense kept the Wildcats in the game throughout. Forcing 18 turnovers, including three blocks by Miki Vermeulen and three steals by Allie Mead. Burke's 8-8 from the free throw line carried her to a team-high 14 points, while Willey carded a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
 
Women's basketball turns back around in just three days, taking on the Willamette Bearcats in Salem on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
 
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