Pacific sophomore
Sydney Esperanza recorded her second career double-double. But the effort wasn't enough to get past visiting Whitman as the Boxers fell 66-62 Saturday afternoon in a back-and-forth Northwest Conference game that featured 16 lead changes.
Trailing 3-0, Pacific went on an 8-0 run to take an 8-3 advantage with 7:14 remaining in the first period. The Blues then answered with a 10-0 run and led 17-10 after the opening quarter.
Down 24-17, the Boxers responded with a 9-0 run. A 3-point play by
Shaade Williams put Pacific on top 26-24 with 4:32 remaining in the first half. The Boxers trailed 30-26 with 2:08 to go, but Williams knocked down a 3-pointer and then scored in the paint to give Pacific a 31-30 lead at halftime.
The Boxers outscored Whitman 9-2 to close out the third period and entered the fourth with a 48-46 advantage. But the Blues took a 57-56 lead with 3:17 remaining and never trailed again.
Pacific got within one point on a Esperanza 3-pointer with 40 seconds to go and then again on a Williams layup with 11 seconds remaining. But the Blues went 6-for-6 at the free throw line in the final 30 seconds to hold on for the win.
Esperanza had 15 points and 11 rebounds. Williams finished with 15 points and three rebounds.
The Boxers, who shot 49 percent, dropped their sixth straight game and fell to 3-8 in conference play.
Next: Pacific plays at Lewis & Clark on Friday at 5:30 p.m.
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