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Jan. 30, 2009
Bearcats Triumph, 69-56, As Lutes' Road Woes Continue
SALEM, Ore. - The road has not been a friendly place for Pacific Lutheran this season and that trend continued on Friday night as the Lutes dropped a 69-56 Northwest Conference women's basketball decision to the Willamette Bearcats at Cone Field House.
The Lutes (10-8 overall, 4-5 NWC) never led in a game that saw them lose for the sixth time in seven away contests this season. In addition, the loss was the fifth out of six conference games after PLU started the NWC slate with three consecutive home wins.
Emily Voorhies tallied 14 points and eight rebounds and Nikki Scott scored 13 points to lead the Lutes, whose three-point shooting woes contributed greatly to the defeat. The Lutes made just 2-of-16 shots from long range.
Jenny Fillion scored 18 points and Alex Zennan added 16 to lead the Bearcats to their second conference win of the season.
Willamette led by as many as 11 points in the first half at 20-9, though the Lutes pulled to within two points, 30-28, at the intermission. The Bearcats built a 40-30 advantage following a layup by Molly Fillion at the 14:38 mark, but PLU pulled within six points, 44-38, on a layup by Voorhies with 11:55 to go.
The Lutes trailed by nine points, 51-42, with 8:57 on the clock,
but Willamette regained a double-digit lead when Zennan put in a
3-pointer with 7:13 remaining. The Bearcats were in front by at
least 10 points the rest of the way.
A strong night at the free throw line helped Willamette claim the
victory. The Bearcats were 20-of-23 (87 percent) at the charity
stripe, including 16-of-19 in the second half. Pacific Lutheran
made 6-of-10 free throws. While the Lutes won the rebound battle,
44-30, they committed 20 turnovers in the game.
PLU returns to Northwest Conference action at 6 p.m. Saturday when
it plays Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Ore.
(Courtesy of Willamette Sports Information Office)
