PORTLAND, Ore. – Down three starters, the Lewis & Clark College women's basketball team erased an eight-point halftime deficit and used a 30-point fourth quarter to defeat Pacific University 65-51, snapping a 14-game losing streak to the Boxers on Friday night at Pamplin Sports Center.
 
THE BASICS
 
Lewis & Clark 65, Pacific 51
Lewis & Clark (6-14, 3-8 NWC)
Pacific (8-13, 3-9 NWC)
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Sophomore Kaitlen Carns led the River Otters with 18 points and went a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line.

First-year Ali McCauley added 11 points off the bench, while juniors DJ Kendrick (eight points) and Divinity Singleton (six points) each pulled down a team-high nine rebounds.

Lewis & Clark struggled to find its offensive rhythm in the first half. The River Otters jumped out to early 5-0 and 7-2 leads, but Pacific responded with a 12-2 run to take a 14-9 advantage after the first quarter.

The Boxers scored the first five points of the second quarter to extend the lead to 19-9. First-year Hailey Perez converted an and-one to spark a 7-0 run for the home team. Kendrick and McCauley followed with jumpers in the paint to cut the deficit to 19-16, but Pacific carried a 28-20 lead into halftime.

Lewis & Clark found its footing in the third quarter after falling behind by its largest margin of the game, 32-20, just over a minute after halftime. The River Otters pulled within 34-30 when first-year Ky Roussin converted a layup off a steal and assist from senior Tatiana Rebanal.

Pacific answered with a 6-0 run to take a 40-30 lead with 1:50 remaining in the third. McCauley and Carns combined for five points late in the quarter as Lewis & Clark trimmed the deficit to 40-35 entering the fourth.

The River Otters took control in the final period. Lewis & Clark opened the quarter with a 5-0 run, capped by a Perez three-pointer at the 8:30 mark to tie the game at 40-40, completing a 10-0 run that began late in the third quarter.

Pacific briefly regained the lead at 42-40 with 7:32 remaining, but Kendrick answered with a driving layup seconds later. Lewis & Clark then pulled away with a decisive 15-2 run, going 8-for-8 from the free-throw line during the stretch to take a 57-44 lead with 2:41 left and close out the win.

Lewis & Clark shot 53.8 percent from the field in the fourth quarter and made 14 of 17 free throws. The defense held Pacific to 31.3 percent shooting in the period, including 0-for-4 from three-point range.

BY THE NUMBERS 

• Lewis & Clark defeated Pacific for the first time since Jan. 23, 2018, a 61-56 road win; the River Otters last beat the Boxers at home on Dec. 4, 2017, 75-53.
• Carns scored 16 of her points in the second half and went 8-for-8 from the free-throw line after halftime.
• The River Otters forced 18 turnovers and converted them into 24 points.
• Lewis & Clark outscored Pacific 34-28 in the paint.
• Perez finished with nine points, while Roussin added seven off the bench.
• Rebanal led the team with three assists, and Kendrick recorded a team-high three steals.

 UP NEXT
 
Lewis & Clark travels to George Fox for a 3 p.m. Northwest Conference game Saturday in Newberg.