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Jan. 16, 2009
Whitman Hands Lutes First Northwest Conference Loss
WALLA WALLA - Whitman used a 16-5 run in the final six minutes of the first half as a catalyst in taking a 56-43 Northwest Conference women's basketball victory over Pacific Lutheran on Friday night in Sherwood Center.
The victory, the 100th career win for Whitman head coach Michelle Ferenz, gave the Missionaries a 12-2 overall record and a 4-1 mark in the Northwest Conference. Pacific Lutheran is now 9-4 for the season and lost for the first time in four conference contests.
The early going was sloppy as both teams handled the ball and shot poorly. With the score tied 11-11 with 6:42 remaining, Whitman finished the half with a 16-5 run, including 11 unanswered points over a 4 1/2-minute period. Whitman led by as much as 14 points, 27-13, in the first half. The Missionaries hit 12-of-19 first-half shots and out-rebounded Pacific Lutheran, 16-11. The two sides combined for 25 turnovers in the first 20 minutes.
PLU cut the deficit to seven points, 29-22, on a Trinity Gibbons three-point basket 2 1/2 minutes into the second half, but Whitman scored 10 unanswered points over the next 4 1/2 minutes to take a comfortable 39-22 lead. Whitman's biggest lead was 22 points, 52-30, on Hilary White's "trey" with 5:25 left in the game. Pacific Lutheran tallied 13 of the game's final 17 points to narrow the final margin.
Whitman shot 22-for-44, an even 50 percent from the field, and also 7-for-17 from three range.
Hilary White paced a balanced Whitman attack with 11 points. Jennifer Keyes came off the bench to hit three treys, good for nine points. Jenele Peterson added eight points while Michelle Krall combined a game-high seven rebounds with five points and three assists.
Pacific Lutheran's Emily Voorhies led all scorers with 14 points and Trinity Gibbons contributed 11 points, six boards and five steals for the Lutes.
The Lutes return to Northwest Conference play at 4 p.m. Saturday with a game against Whitworth in Spokane.
(Courtesy of Whitman Sports Information Office)
