Loggers End Wildcats` Season

Center Kate Stadeli led Linfield with 13 points

Salem-News.com SPORTS

TACOMA, Wash. - With five players in double-digit scoring, the Puget Sound Loggers cruised to a 65-50 victory over the visiting Linfield Wildcats in the Northwest Conference women's basketball tournament semifinal Thursday evening at Memorial Fieldhouse.

The Loggers advance to the NWC championship game scheduled for Saturday night against George Fox in Newberg.

The Wildcats opened up the game with a bucket by Sara Burgoyne but a three-pointer from Shelby Ramirez gave the Loggers a lead they would never relinquish.

Puget Sound pushed its advantage to double-digits at the 11:38 mark when Allison Craven hit a jumper to make it 15-5.

Linfield, which made just 2 of its first 12 shots from the field, struggled throughout much of the first half.

A Craven jumper with 29 seconds remaining in the period put the hosts in front at the break, 36-15.

Linfield made the game a little more interesting in the second half but it wasn't enough to take down the NWC champion Loggers.

A jumper by Marissa Lindquist with 8:12 remaining shrunk the UPS lead to 12 points but that would be as close as Linfield would come.

UPS used 11 second-half free throws to put the game out of reach.

The Loggers were led by 14 points from junior Marissa Cain.

Craven added 13 points to go with three assists and three steals while Brie Adderley came off the bench to score 11 points.

Ramirez and Morgan Harter each added 10 points.

Logger post Karen Chase was held scoreless but was responsible for three of the Loggers five block shots.

Center Kate Stadeli led Linfield with 13 points. Brihtani Lassiter added 12 while Burgoyne nearly collected a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds.

The Wildcats were 16 of 18 from the charity stripe in the second half but turned the ball over 21 times in the loss.

For the game, the Wildcats shot 32 percent, including 1 of 9 from 3-point territory.

Linfield ends its season at 14-11, the highest win total since the 2002-03 season.

The Wildcats reach the postseason for the first time since 2000.

The Loggers turn their attention to Saturday's matchup with George Fox.

The winner of the two NWC co-champions earns an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III tournament.

Tipoff is set for 7:00 PM in Newberg.

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