Box Score TACOMA, Wash. -- Kaitlin Mathewson's 3-pointer with 24 seconds remaining brought the Lewis & Clark Pioneers to within three points of the Pacific Lutheran lead, but it wasn't enough to complete a late comeback in a 56-49 loss at Names Family Court on Friday night.
Mathewson's basket was the first for the Pios in nearly five minutes. Freshman Alyx Crager scored with 5:18 left in the fourth period to put Lewis & Clark in the lead 46-43.
Following Crager's hoop, Samantha Kelleigh made a 3-pointer to tie the game, marking the first time the Pios hadn't led since the 1:05 mark of the opening period. Her Lutes teammates Michaela Edgers and Madis Green-Hayward scored on back-to-back possessions, giving PLU a 50-46 lead with 2:32 remaining. Pacific Lutheran made 5 of 8 free throws in the final 36 seconds to close out the victory.
The Pioneers missed 5 of 6 attempts and committed five turnovers following Crager's basket in the middle of the fourth quarter. PLU wasn't great during that stretch either, making just 2 of 8 attempts. Five offensive rebounds, though, allowed the Lutes to limit Lewis & Clark's possessions.
"We struggled to get stops on the defensive end," said Lewis & Clark head coach Asha Jordan. "We have to get stops, especially in crucial times to win games."
Mathewson finished with a game-high 15 points, her first double-digit scoring performance in her last four games. Ayisat Afolabi added 11 points off the bench, although she shot 1 of 8 in the second half after making on 4 of 7 in the first.
PLU had four players score 10-plus, led by Kelleigh and Edgers with 13 apiece. Kaelyn Voss added 11 points and Green-Hayward finished with 10.
The start of the game was delayed 15 minutes after Lewis & Clark's bus broke down on the way to Tacoma from Portland. The team had to transfer to a school bus to get the rest of the way.
Lewis & Clark plays the final of its four-straight road games on Jan. 22 before returning to the Pamplin Sports Center to host Willamette the following night.
Other Northwest Conference Games - Friday
Whitworth 58, Willamette 47
George Fox 66, Whitman 50
Pacific 78, Puget Sound 70 (OT)
