PARKLAND, Wash. – The Pacific University women's basketball team made it back-to-back wins in Northwest Conference action with their 80-58 win over Pacific Lutheran on Tuesday night.
The Boxers (13-5, 7-2 NWC) shot just over 40% from the field in a solid shooting display. Pacific made 10 total three-pointers and managed 13 assists in the contest.
The Lutes (5-11, 2-7 NWC) made nine three-pointers but shot just 33.9% overall. They were led by freshman Josie Napoli who scored 15 points.
Brilie Kovaloff (Junior/Honolulu, HI) led the Boxers on the offensive end with 22 points. She shot the ball extremely well as she went 4-of-8 from three-point range and 8-of-14 overall.
Rilee Price (Junior/Brea, CA) recorded her first double-double of the season in what was an excellent performance from the guard. Price grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds in addition to her 10 points. The junior handed out four assists and made five of her six foul shots.
Camy Aguinaldo (Senior/Honolulu, HI) came close to a triple-double in a great all-around performance. The senior made two threes on her way to 19 total points and also tallied eight rebounds and a team-high seven assists.
Sydney Gray (Junior/Central Point, OR) knocked down three triples and poured in 13 points on the night. She was effective on the defensive end as well with four rebounds and two blocks.
How It Happened
Pacific started the contest 5-for-5 from the floor as their impeccable ball movement created some open looks in the early minutes. The Boxers got the perfect start when Gray hit a triple on the opening possession to get her team on the board. Price followed with a layup and Gray would knock down yet another three-pointer to extend the lead.
Kaylee-Brooke Manuel (Junior/Nanakuli, HI) received a beautiful pass from Price and finished off a layup in transition before Aguinaldo hit a pair of jumpers to make it a 10-point advantage. The Boxers closed the quarter just 1-of-10 from the field after starting 7-of-8, this allowed Pacific Lutheran to muster a 7-1 run and cut the lead to just four points (19-15) after the first quarter.
Kovaloff ended the scoring drought after a tough drive to the basket, but the Lutes would eventually take the lead by putting together a 5-0 run. Aguinaldo answered by drilling a step-back three to restore the Pacific lead. Following another quick 5-0 run from the hosts, Kovaloff completed a three-point play and hit her first triple of the night to put Pacific back in front. PLU would close the half with a 4-for-5 stretch to earn the advantage yet again, but Kovaloff would hit a layup at the buzzer to even the score at 36-36 going into the break.
Back-to-back three-pointers from Price and Kovaloff would give Pacific some momentum to start the second half. Gray and Kovaloff would each make a three-pointer to push the lead to nine points. After Gray finished a layup in transition, Pacific would lead by 11 points and this would force a timeout from PLU at the six-minute mark in the third quarter.
Madison Dunlop (Sophomore/Palmer, AK) hit a pair of free throws and Aguinaldo would come up with a steal and score on the other end, plus some contact, to make it a 13-0 run. The Lutes would hit three consecutive shots from beyond the arc but Pacific would still maintain a nine-point lead (56-47) going into the final 10 minutes.
Gray continued her solid night with a layup to extend the lead to double digits. Aguinaldo found the shooting stroke on the next possession by nailing her second three-pointer of the night. With her fourth three-ball of the game, Kovaloff would eclipse the 20-point mark and put the game out of reach. Pacific out-scored PLU 44-22 in the second half to make it back-to-back wins in conference play after their solid road victory.
By The Numbers
- Pacific reached double-digit three-pointers (10) for the first time since Jan. 9.
- Taya McCallum (Freshman/Chehalis, WA) played her first minutes since Nov. 19.
- PLU was just 1-of-8 from three-point range in the fourth quarter.
Up Next
The Boxers will host No. 6 Whitman on Feb. 4 inside the Stoller Center. Tip-off is scheduled for 6 p.m.
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