Linfield rallied from a 16-point deficit to defeat Pacific University women's basketball, 60-57 on Saturday afternoon.
In the loss for the Boxers' its four seniors combined for 38 of the Boxers' 57 points including a team-high 19-point effort from
Liana Tanaka. Fellow seniors
Jenee Brown and
Megan Wesel each added seven and
Candice Nkoy scored a career-high five points. Joining Tanaka in double figures was sophomore
Courtney Carolan, who added 11.
Pacific, who ends the season with an 8-17 overall mark and 2-14 record in the Northwest Conference. Linfield improves to 12-13 overall and 8-8 in the Northwest Conference. The Wildcats' Molly Danielson scored a game-high 20 points and she was joined in double figures by Kore Oleson, who added 17.
The Boxers closed out the opening, scoring 11 of the final 16 points for a 19-12 lead after the opening quarter. When Nkoy hit a 3-pointer in the opening seconds of the second quarter, it marked the first time all season that all four seniors had entered into the scoring column. After a 11-2 run midway through the quarter, the Boxers held a game-high 16-point lead on the visitors from McMinnville.
A 20-8 advantage in the third quarter by the visitors tied the game at 44 and the Wildcats' Molly Danielson made a jumper early in the fourth quarter to put Linfield ahead for the first time since the 5:30 mark of the first quarter. Then, back to back baskets by Wesel put the Boxers ahead 49-46 with 7:15 left to play. Pacific remained in front until Jordyn Feinauer made a 3-pointer with 4:43 to go to tie the contest at 51. Then, Cassidy Schultz made a lay up with 2:52 to go that put the visitors back ahead for the remainder of the contest.
In the closing minutes, the Boxers got within one when
Alexa Hinkley made one of two free throws with 2:32 left. But, Danielson answered with a jumper for the Wildcats. A last-second 3-pointer attempt by the Boxers was blocked, ending the game.