Setting the Scene: The Pacific Lutheran University women's basketball team opens up a six-game homestand today, welcoming local rival Evergreen State College to Olson Gymnasium.
Series History: The Lutes and Geoducks are meeting for the 21st time since the rivalry began during the 2000-2001 season with PLU owning an 11-9 advantage in the series.
PLU has won the last two meetings, including a 60-46 victory last year in Olympia and a 55-52 win during the 2023-2024 season inside Olson Gymnasium.
About the Lutes: The Lutes (0-5) get to spend the Holidays at home, hosting a half dozen games over the next month.
Prior to this weekend, the Lutes have been idle for two weeks, last playing in late November against a pair of NAIA opponents. The Lutes fell 107-58 to Corban University in the home opener before getting edged 78-65 by Warner Pacific University two days later in a game the Lutes held a lead in the fourth quarter.
That game saw four players finish in double figures in a back and forth affair with seven lead changes and six ties. Sydney Reisner, Kate Wooten, and Ava Bright led the way, all three scoring 13 points with Kylie Griffin adding 10.
Sydney Reisner paces the Lute scoring attack, averaging 10.0 points per game while Kyle Griffin is averaging 8.0 ppg, shooting a red-hot 62.5 percent from the floor. Ghadir Ramadan powers the team on the glass, netting 6.0 rebounds per game while Emi Wada leads the team in both assists (17) and steals (10).
About the Geoducks: Evergreen State (0-4) heads to Olson Gymnasium searching for its first victory of the 2025-2026 campaign. The Geoducks opened the season with a 104-77 setback to Western Oregon University on Nov. 22 before playing a pair of exhibition games against Saint Martin's University and Seattle University.
Evergreen State was foiled 73-32 by Oregon Institute of Technology to open Cascade Collegiate Conference play on Dec. 5 and stumbled 72-47 to Southern Oregon University the following day.
The Geoducks faced the University of Puget Sound on Wednesday night with the Loggers spoiling the home opener inside Costantino Rec Center with an 88-49 win.
Three Geoducks average in double figures with Baylegh Harder leading the way. Harder owns a team-best 15.5 points per game while also leading the team in rebounds (6.3 per game) and blocks (seven). Jenna Glenzel drops 14.0 ppg and 5.0 rpg while Shaunya Kahananui has a 14.0 ppg average.
NWC Coaches' Poll
The Lutes look to defy expectations this fall after getting pegged to place ninth in the conference standings in the annual NWC Preseason Coaches' Poll. PLU collected 11 points in the poll, falling six shy of eighth ranked Lewis & Clark College. Linfield University is the preseason favorite with 60 points with crosstown rival University of Puget Sound second with 56 points.
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.
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 Game:
Dec. 21 vs. UC Santa Cruz at 12 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