TACOMA, Wash. – The University of Redlands Women's Basketball team came away with a split during the PLU Tournament Saturday holding on to beat the host Pacific Lutheran University 70-67 in OT.
Redlands rebounded in a big way following a loss on Day 1 to No. 20 University of Puget Sound by beating the Lutes in extra-time for their second win in OT this season. They have now won five of their last six, currently 3-2 against the Northwest Conference and improve to 6-2, 2-0 SCIAC.
Alyssa Downs (South San Francisco, CA) had a massive game for the Maroon and Grey pouring in a game high 21 points with ten of them coming from the free-throw line along with four rebounds, two assists and four steals. Chyanne Pagkalinawan (Valencia, CA) added 13 points with three assists and Hannah Jerrier (Canton, MA) posted another double double with 10 points and 16 rebounds. Jerrier also had three assists, five steals and three blocks.
It was a back and forth affair with ten lead changes and nine ties, but it would be the U of R pulling out the win thanks to a pair of free-throws with :56 seconds left in extra time and another seven being made down the stretch to secure the win.
UR opened up the scoring in the first quarter with an and one coming from Downs. Immediately following the Lutes would go on a 10-2 run, but Redlands was quick to respond cutting the deficit to one with six of the next eight. Across the final four minutes PLU was able to regroup scoring eight of the final ten points of the first quarter to lead 20-13.
Redlands trailed by as many as six in the second quarter, but managed to outscore the Lutes 12-9 thanks to Zorich who had half of them. This pulled the Maroon and Grey within four 29-25. Out of the half the U of R again outscored PLU this time 14-12 as Murillo added a spark with four points. A quick 6-2 run to start off the period pulled Redlands even. A few minutes later Murillo converted a pair of layins inside that gave UR a lead. But with under a minute to play PLU was able to go back on top thanks to an and one pushing the score to 41-39.
It was an exciting fourth quarter with UR holding a slight 18-16 edge. Two minutes into the period PLU held a five-point lead, but an ensuing 8-0 run swung the momentum with Downs adding two free-throws and Pagkalinawan knocking down a jumper and converting inside moving the score to 49-46. The Lutes would add a three-pointer on their next possession to tie things up and after that it was back and forth. With 1:19 left PLU managed to grab a three-point advantage 57-54 and were looking to hold on, but with :25 seconds left Downs knocked down the game-tying three, the only triple for the Bulldogs for the game forcing extra-time.
In overtime PLU grabbed a quick lead with two free throws and then led 61-59 with 2:47 left. After that it was UR connecting from the charity stripe with eleven free throws that secured the win. The Bulldogs led 65-61 with :40 seconds left, but somehow PLU was able to come down and knock down a triple that cut the deficit to one, 65-64. Following a UR timeout the Lutes were forced to foul, but it wouldn't help as Downs would convert five of six free throws.
Off the bench Starla Murillo (Fremont, CA) played big minutes with nine points on 4-of-6 shooting along with five rebounds. She was the lone reserve to score. Colbi Zorich (Kenmore, WA) tossed in another nine points playing 40 minutes of action to go with seven rebounds, three steals and a block.
The Bulldogs shot 38.7% from the field and a mere 10% from three-point territory. They also added an 84% clip from the charity stripe. They won the battle on the glass 36-33, had 29 points off turnovers, 30 points in the paint, and 14 second chance points.
Redlands remains in the non-conference portion of their schedule next week on Tuesday, December 20 when they host Illinois College beginning at 4:00pm.