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Feb. 13, 2009
Whitman Defense Stifles Pacific Lutheran, 61-49
PARKLAND - Whitman threw a suffocating defense at Pacific Lutheran, limiting the Lutes to 32 percent shooting from the field and forcing 22 turnovers in taking a 61-49 Northwest Conference women's basketball victory on Friday night in Olson Auditorium.
The Missionaries (16-6, 8-5 NWC) held on to third placed in the conference standings and dealt a blow to PLU's hopes of advancing to the four-team postseason tournament. The Lutes(12-10, 6-7 NWC), who lost for only the second time in 12 games at home this season, are tied with Whitworth for fifth place in the standings, both teams trailing Pacific by 1 ½ games. PLU and Whitworth play at 4 p.m.
It took three minutes before either team put a point on the board, that coming on Hilary White's layup that gave Whitman a 2-0 advantage. Once the Missionaries got going, however, they were tough for the Lutes to stop. White scored seven of her team's first nine points as Whitman took a 9-2 lead six minutes into the contest.
Later in the half, the Missionaries scored 10 unanswered points to built a 28-9 lead with 5:35 remaining in the first half. They eventually settled for a 35-20 halftime edge.
Whitman was never really threatened in the second half, leading by as much as 21 points, 45-25, on Dawna Mello's jumper with 13:11 left in the contest. In fact, the Lutes ran off the game's final six points to make the score as close as it was.
The Missionaries, who swept the season series from PLU, ended up shooting 43 percent from the field (23-for-53), including 50 percent (4-for-8) from long range. They also were accurate from the foul line, making 11 of their 13 attempts.
Jenele Peterson and White shared game-high scoring honors with 15 points apiece and Michelle Krall added 11 points. White led her team with six rebounds and Peterson dished out six assists for Whitman.
Emily Voorhies scored 11 points to lead the Lutes, who made just 19-of-59 shots and 3-of-15 from three-point range. PLU did have a 40-37 rebounding advantage, led by Nikki Scott with eight.
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