Linfield Women Remain in NWC Playoff Hunt

Salem-News.com SPORTS

WALLA WALLA, Wash. - Linfield rallied from a seven-point halftime deficit to hand Whitman its second straight home loss, surprising the Missionaries 52-48 in a Northwest Conference game Saturday afternoon at Sherwood Center.

The visiting Wildcats got 12 points from Sara Burgoyne and 11 from Brihtani Lassiter.

Mary Findlay added nine points, eight rebounds and two steals off the bench.

With the win, Linfield improved to 6-6 in the confererence and 11-9 overall.

The Wildcats garnered a road sweep of both Whitman and Whitworth for the first time since 2000, avenging two earlier home losses, and remain in the thick of the hunt for a conference playoff berth.

Whitman saw its playoff hopes dim, falling to 5-7 in the league, 10-11 overall.

The game was a see-saw affair with numerous ties and lead changes.

Following a pair of free throws by Jamie Godfrey, Linfield led 8-0 after four minutes, only to watch the momentum swing in favor of the Missionaries.

Paced by Kelsey Krumdieck’s 11 first-half points, Whitman took a seven-point lead at the intermission, 27-20.

Linfield used an 11-2 run to take a 31-29 lead on Burgoyne’s field goal just five minutes into the period.

The Missionaries took a momentary 34-33 lead before another a 3-pointer by Lassiter and a steal and layup by Findlay put Linfield back in front 43-39.

Linfield clung to a 51-48 lead with 55 seconds to play after Whitman’s Shea Morrissey connected on a 3-pointer and the Missionaries had a chance to tie in the waning seconds but Krumdieck’s layup was no good.

Linfield held Krumdieck scoreless in the second half, though she did finish with 11 points, five rebounds and three assists.

The Wildcats shot .444 to the Missionaries’ .318 and outrebounded the hosts by a 33-29 margin.

Morrissey led all scorers with 15 points while Katie Patneaude tallied 14 in a losing cause.

Three of Linfield’s final four regular-season games are at home, beginning with a pair of home contests in the week ahead at Ted Wilson Gym.

Friday night, the Wildcats the Lewis & Clark Pioneers, then battle the Willamette Bearcats Saturday.

Both games are set for 6:00 PM.

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