The playoff-bound Pioneer women's basketball team fell 68-62 (box score) to the #22 Puget Sound Loggers Friday night in Tacoma. Kelly Vega scored a career-high 20 points to lead the Pioneers.

The Pioneers struck early, with Laura Snider (senior, Colorado Springs, Colo.) hitting a three-pointer ten seconds into the game, starting a 7-0 run for the Pioneers. The Loggers tied the game 7-7 with 16:43 remaining in the half. After several lead changes, the Pioneers went back into the lead, 15-14, on a three-pointer by Shawna Castle (senior, Rocklin, Calif.) with 11:20 left in the first half. The Pioneers managed to extend the lead out to five four different times in the remainder of the half, but UPS cut right back into the lead each time. The Pioneers were poised to take a three-point lead into the break when a buzzer-beating three by the Loggers' Claire Ely tied the game 29-29 at the half.

The Pioneers came back out ice cold, allowing the Loggers to score the first eight points of the half. The Pioneers didn't hit a field goal in the second half until the 13:14 mark, on a layup by Kelly Vega (sophomore, Beaverton, Ore.), but still trailed by just six, 39-33.

After the Loggers extended the lead to ten, 44-34, with 11:10 left in the game, the Pioneers started their comeback. A jumper by Allison Farr (senior, Lakeport, Calif.) and three freethrows cut the lead to five, 44-39. A minute later, the Pioneers pulled within three, 46-43, on a Kim Kittell (sophomore, Tillamook, Ore.) layup with 8:39 remaining.

After the Loggers pushed the lead back out to eight, the Pioneers cut it down to four, 54-50 on a jumper by Vega with 4:00 remaining in the game. The Loggers pushed the lead back out to nine, 61-52, with 1:17 remaining. Even then, the Pioneers wouldn't quit. An and-one layup by Vega put the Pioneers within four, 66-62, with 22 seconds left in the game. The Pioneers had a three-point shot with :14 seconds remaining to pull within two, but the shot didn't fall. Puget Sound pulled in the rebound, and hit freethrows to walk away with a 68-62 victory.

The Pioneers post play kept them in the game. The Pioneers shot 61.9% from the field in the first half, including Kelly Vega hitting five of her six layup attempts for 10 first-half points. She finished the game with a Pioneer career-high 20 points. On the defensive side of the ball, the Pioneers held the UPS post players to 1-12 shooting in the first half.
Crystal Castle (senior, Rocklin, Calif.) had her ninth double-double of the season with 10 points and 12 rebounds.

With the loss, the Pioneers lose the hope of finishing second in the NWC. No matter the outcome of Saturday's game, they will finish in third place in the NWC. They will play their first playoff game on the road Wednesday night, either back at Puget Sound or out in Newberg, taking on George Fox. Either game will begin at 7pm.

The Pioneers close out the regular season Saturday night in McMinnville with a 6pm game against the Linfield Wildcats. Live play-by-play of the game will be available on the internet through sportsjuice.com.