Setting the Scene: The Pacific Lutheran University women's basketball squad is back at home for the first time in over a month, welcoming an international opponent to Olson Gymnasium in Canada's Vancouver Island University.
Series History: The Lutes and Mariners have never met on the hardwood but its not the first time PLU has faced off against a Canadian University. The Lutes are 7-15 all-time against Canadian opponents, including Simon Fraser University, Trinity Western University, and Capilano College. Simon Fraser is the last Canadian opponent the Lutes have faced, a 78-56 setback in the 1999-2000 season opener.
About the Lutes: Sydney Reisner scored a career-high 25 points as the Pacific Lutheran University women's basketball team rallied from a double-digit deficit before ultimately falling 82-75 in overtime to Northwest University in a non-conference showdown at the Kristi Brodin Pavilion on Dec. 18.
Ashley Akamine drained a clutch jumper with 12 seconds left in regulation, tying the game at 72 to send the game into overtime. Akamine's shot capped off a final nine minutes of play that saw the Lutes (2-6) erase a 12-point deficit, outscoring the host Eagles 22-10 down the stretch to send the game into the five-minute bonus session. Northwest's dozen point lead was built off a layup with 9:05 remaining in regulation. Reisner made it a 10-point game a minute later before a Taylor Schmidtke trey closed the gap into single digits.
Northwest's (4-6) advantage was eight points with 3:08 remaining but a pair of Reisner free throws made it a one possession game with 1:19 to play in the fourth quarter. PLU trailed by three with 29 ticks left beforer Reisner hit a three to tie the game. Northwest answered with a bucket to take the lead before Akamine's jumper sent the game to overtime.
The Eagles never trailed in overtime, making two early buckets and drilling a layup with 20 seconds left to make it a two possession game. The hosts would hit two free throws late to cement the win.
PLU scored the opening two points of the game but it was Northwest that established an early lead, owning a 23-13 edge after one quarter of play. A Kasidy Javernick trey with 2:27 left in the opening half cut the gap to a single possession but Northwest scored the final nine points of the half, enjoying a 39-27 halftime advantage.
Reisner drilled three treys and was seven-for-12 from the field, dropping a career-high 25 points to lead all scorers. Taylor Schmidtke drained a trio of threes as well, finishing with 14 points while Javernick added 10 points along with eight rebounds, three assists, and a pair of steals. Jaida Wood made a huge impact on the glass, hauling in 10 rebounds while scoring seven points off the bench while Akamine had a half dozen points and three steals.
PLU's defense had 11 steals and forced Northwest to commit 21 turnovers on the night. That helped the Lutes own a 19-11 edge in points off turnovers. PLU won the rebounding battle (28-27), the turnover battle (21-11) and made more free throws (16-14), but couldn't match Northwest's proficiency from beyond the arc with the hosts hitting 12 threes on the evening.
Sydney Reisner is PLU's leading scorer through the opening eight games of the season, averaging 13.3 points per game. That includes draining a team-best 17 threes this winter and shooting at a 39.5 percent clip from the floor.
Kasidy Javernick is the second Lute in double figures, dropping 10.1 ppg and adding 5.5 rebounds per game. Javernick is a menace defensively, owning a team-best 21 steals.
Stacie Spahr leads the team on the glass, hauling in 7.5 rebounds per game.
About the Mariners: Vancouver Island (11-1) is off to a blazing start, winning 11 of its opening 12 games and heads to the United States on a six-game win streak.
The Mariners lone blemish is a 80-72 setback to Douglas College, an eight point loss on Dec. 9 that came off the heels of a 60-46 VIU blowout win the previous night.
Since then, the Mariners have netted wins over Camosun (73-40 & 71-39), Capilano (90-60 & 92-44), and Langara (79-39 & 76-48). VIU has been off the entire month of Januray with that last win over Langara coming on Nov. 30.
Harriette Mackenzie is VIU’s leading scorer, dropping 16.1 points per game and adding 9.4 rebounds per game. Kaia Simpson chips in 11.3 ppg and 7.3 rpg while Mackenzie Cox adds 8.5 ppg and 3.7 assists per game.
Giving Back to the Community
Earlier this fall, the PLU women's basketball program gave back to the local community, volunteering with Metro Parks Tacoma doing a restoration project at Catherine Ursich Park.
Weekend Highlights from Around Luteville
Highlights from a great weekend in Luteville that including wins from women's soccer, women's basketball, and football.
NWC Preseason Coaches' Poll
Trailblazing NIL the D3 Way: PLU Athletics continues to lead the way nationally in Name, Image, and Likeness, unveiling the Luteville Marketplace last fall through the department's partnership with Opendorse. But don't stay on the sidelines, get involved and connect with PLU student-athletes on the Luteville Marketplace: LINK
The Luteville Marketplace is the first dedicated NIL marketplace in Division III on the Opendorse platform that directly connects student-athletes with fans, supporters, and business partners in an easy to use website.
Last spring PLU became just the second Division III school in the nation and the first school in any division in the State of Washington to partner with Athlete's Thread. Athlete's Thread allows every Lute student-athlete to sell customizable gear and jerseys with their name and number and receive monetary compensation for a portion of each sale. Check out the link above to order your gear today!
Stay connected to your favorite teams by downloading the official mobile app of the Pacific Lutheran University athletic department powered by SIDEARM Sports, available in the Apple App Store and on Google Play.
Featuring real-time news alerts, schedules, exclusive multimedia content, gameday details and more, the new PLU Athletics app is free and compatible with both iOS and Android devices.
Next Home Game:
Jan. 10: Linfield University at 8 p.m.
PLU Non-Discrimination Policy: Pacific Lutheran University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Title IX Coordinator Jennifer Childress-White; 253-535-7361; TitleIX@plu.edu
Credits:
Emily Wilburn