PLU Rally Comes Up Short in Loss to Loggers

TACOMA - Pacific Lutheran dug itself a deep hole early in the second half and despite a spirited comeback could not overcome a 20-point deficit in falling to the Puget Sound Loggers, 61-54, in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game played Wednesday night in Memorial Fieldhouse.

PLU, which missed nine of its first 10 shots in falling behind 16-4 in the opening minutes of the game, hit eight of its next 12 shots to pull within seven points at the half, 27-20. But just like the first half, the Loggers started the final period on a strong note while the Lutes struggled. Puget Sound (10-2 overall, 2-1 NWC) ran off the first 13 points of the second period to take a 40-20 lead. At that point, it looked like the Loggers were well on the way to their 10th win in the last 13 games against PLU.

The Lutes (3-9, 1-2) would have none of it, repeatedly going down low to Tracy Goehri to get back into the game in the late going. The 6-0 senior post from Spokane finished the game with 24 points on 11-of-19 shooting from the field. After scoring just four points in the opening half, Goehri torched the interior of the Puget Sound defense for 20 of the Lutes' 34 second-half points.

The Lutes trailed by 16 points with 4:41 remaining when Mandy Wall hit a pair of charity tosses to start the furious rally. Goehri hit three straight baskets, Melissa Pixler buried a three-point shot, and Goehri added three more field goals, the final one cutting the Lutes' deficit to 58-54 with 24 seconds remaining.

Puget Sound put the game away on Lindsay Layland's three-point play with 15 seconds left. 

Goehri was PLU's only player to score in double figures, while Pixler and Sara Backstrom both contributed seven points. Backstrom, a 5-5 sophomore guard, led the Lutes with six rebounds and five assists. The Lutes shot 40 percent from the field (23-of-58) but made just 18 percent (2-of-11) from three-point range.

Claire Ely, Puget Sound's all-conference guard, tied Goehri for game-high honors with 24 points on 7-of-18 shooting from the field and 9-of-10 from the charity stripe. Jocelyn Riordan added 16 points and Layland contributed 10 points. Natasha Ludwig had a game-high nine rebounds as the Loggers won that battle, 39-33. UPS shot 38 percent from the field (20-of-53) and 25 percent from the outside (4-of-16).

Puget Sound was 17-of-20 at the foul line compared to just 6-of-8 for the Lutes.

Pacific Lutheran returns to Northwest Conference action at 6 p.m. Saturday when it hosts the Lewis & Clark Pioneers in Olson Auditorium.

- PLU -