1/10 - PACIFIC LUTHERAN 69,GEORGE FOX 52: Lutes Down Bruins Behind Kustura's Clutch Shooting
NEWBERG, Ore. - Standing only 5'4", Aundi Kustura is one of the smallest players in the Northwest Conference this year, but she came up with some big shots Saturday night here at Miller Gym in the Wheeler Sports Center, scoring 22 points, 17 in the second half, to lead the Pacific Lutheran University Lutes to a 69-52 women's basketball win over the George Fox University Bruins.
After breaking a 2-2 tie on a layup by Sara Wilcox, the Lutes led throughout the first half and went into the break ahead 28-25. George Fox finally took its first and only lead of the game at 32-30 with 14:47 to play on a 3-pointer by Liz Clark, and then Kustura went to work.
In a span of 69 seconds, the little guard hit two jumpers and a three, and a triple by Kelly Turner made it 10 unanswered points as the Lutes took control, 40-32. Another three by Turner made it 46-34 with 9:52 left, the first double-digit lead of the night, and the home team got no closer than 9 the rest of the way. The final score was the largest margin of the game.
The Bruins got 16 points and 7 rebounds from Darby Cave, and Kellie Thomas chipped in with 11 points. Melissa Alexander had 8 assists. It was another tough night for George Fox from the field; after hitting only 34% in a loss the night before to the University of Puget Sound, the Bruins managed only 35.8% (19-53) against PLU.
In addition to Kustura's 22, Turner and Wilcox had 12 points and Mallory Mann scored 11. Kezia Long was the Lutes' top rebounder with 7, and Mann passed out 8 assists. The Lutes, after hitting only 38.5% (10-26) in the first half, sizzled in the second half, making 56.0% (14-25).
George Fox fell to 6-4 overall and 0-2 in the conference, while Pacific Lutheran, ranked 32nd in the D3hoops.com poll, improved to 8-2 overall and 2-1 in the league.
The Bruins are back in conference action Tuesday (Jan. 13), hosting Pacific University, which upset Puget Sound Saturday night in Forest Grove. The Lutes are off until Friday (Jan. 16) when they will host Whitworth College. Both women's games are at 6:00 p.m., followed by men's games at 8:00 p.m.