BOX SCORE
WALLA WALLA, Wash. - Junior Megan Spence had a career night for the Lewis & Clark women's basketball team, posting 28 points in the Pioneers 64-61 victory over the Whitman Missionaries on Friday night. Spence ended the night shooting 12-16 from the floor, hitting 10-13 from the post.
The Pioneers continue to have a successful season, improving to 14-4 overall and 8-1 in the Northwest Conference. The win hands the Pioneers their 10th in a row and keeps them one game ahead of both Puget Sound and George Fox in the NWC. The Missionaries fall to 10-8 on the season and 4-5 in conference action.
Spence led all players in points with a career-high 28 points, while teammate Kristina Williams closed things out with 20. Williams ended the night 7-15 from the floor, while hitting all four of her free-throws. Junior Margaret Dowling pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds and teammate Tayler Wang collected six.
Anna Forge and Jenele Peterson knocked down a team-high 14 points for the Missionaries. Kelly Peterson led the way defensively for Whitman, collecting 10 rebounds, one steal and one block.
The game began with the two sides trading the lead over the first couple of minutes, with the Pioneers taking control on a Williams three-pointer with 13:55 to play. The Williams long-range basket spurred a 10-2 run over a three minute span. Whitman pulled within two points of the Pioneers to make the game 18-16, but the Pioneers were able to pull away once again for a 28-18 lead with 7:26 to play in the half.
Forge put the Missionaries ahead of the Pios for the first time since the Williams basket, putting Whitman up 30-29 with two minutes till halftime. With the game tied 33-33, Sara Villanueva hit a jumper with 25 seconds left to send the Pios in half with a two point, 35-33, cushion.
The Pioneers came out of the locker room on fire, going on a 10-0 run to capture a 45-33 advantage with 17 minutes remaining. The Pioneers kept the Missionaries at a comfortable distance until a three-pointer pulled Whitman within one point, 60-59, with 1:20 left to play. Williams was able to end the game in the Pioneers favor with back-to-back made free-throws with 14 seconds remaining, handing her team the 64-61 victory.
The Pioneers return to action on Saturday, Jan. 29 at 6 p.m. when they take on the Whitworth Pirates. The Pioneers will be looking get the better of the Pirates this time around, after dropping their only conference game of the season to the Pirates.
