Whitman Downs Linfield, 53-48

The Wildcats dropped to 6-6 overall and 1-3 in conference play.

Photo: Whitman Athletics

McMINNVILLE - Whitman erased an eight-point deficit and went on to defeat Linfield 53-48 in Northwest Conference action Saturday afternoon at Ted Wilson Gym.

The Missionaries, 8-5 overall and 3-1 in the NWC, held Linfield scoreless for more than seven minutes to turn the tide in their favor.

Linfield led by as many as eight in the first half, taking a 27-22 lead at intermission. The opening half was fairly even statistically.

The Wildcats made three more baskets (10 to 7) with the same number of attempts (25), but the Missionaries outrebounded the 'Cats 21-19 and had one less turnover (9 to 8).

Linfield went back in front by eight, 32-24, to begin the second half, but the Missionaires clawed back to tie the game following Michelle Krall's free throw with 14:20 left. Kelsey Krumdieck's field goal, part of a 14-0 run, gave Whitman its first lead since early in the first half.

The Missionaires kept Linfield without a point for more than seven minutes. Porcia Jackson finally ended the drought with a 3-point play that made it 38-35 in favor of the visitors. But the damage was done and the momentum remained solidly on Whitman's side of the floor.

Trailing by seven points with six minutes, the Wildcats knuckled down.

Lassiter's 3-pointer from the top of the circle and a free throw by McFadden cut the margin to three, 43-40.

Shae Morrisey's two free throws with 32 seconds to go iced the game for Whitman.

Francis finished with a game-high 11 points, making 3 of 5 from the field, all 3-pointers.

Krumdieck, who added eight points, totaled a game-high six rebounds as Whitman finished with a 37-34 advantage on the backboards.

McFadden tallied a team-high 11 points and added four rebounds for the Wildcats. Sara Burgoyne and Kate Stadeli each had five rebounds.

The Wildcats are on the road for their next two contests.

Friday night, Linfield travel to Portland's Pamplin Sports Center to battle the Lewis & Clark Pioneers.

Saturday, Linfield is in Salem for a matchup with the Willamette Bearcats. Both games start at 6:00 PM.

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