Trinity Women Fall to Pacific Lutheran Monday Night

Parkland, Wash. - The Trinity Tiger women's basketball team wrapped up their Washington trip with a 75-63 loss to the Pacific Lutheran Lutes Monday night in Olson Gym.

Trinity now stands at 1-4, and Pacific Lutheran improved to 2-1. The University of Puget Sound beat the Tigers 58-44 Sunday in nearby Tacoma.

The Tigers were paced Monday by junior forward Abby Dietert of Cibolo, Texas (Steele), who scored a game-high 24 points. Dietert shot 6-11 from the field, sank 11-13 free throws, made four steals, and grabbed five rebounds.

Senior guard Danielle Hubenak of San Antonio (Churchill) added 14 points, six rebounds, and six steals. Sophomore guard Anne Waidelich of Floyd, Texas (Bland), registered a team-high seven rebounds, while scoring seven points. First-year guard Nicole Halbleib of Aurora, Colo. (Grandview), accounted for eight points and four assists, along with three steals.

Pacific Lutheran was led by Samantha Potter's double-double of 15 points and 11 rebounds.

The game was tied six times in the first half, including a 20-20 score with 8:22 remaining. Trinity took a 25-24 lead, on a jumper by first-year forward Kelsey Daniel, at 6:15. But the Lutes outscored the Tigers 18-7 the rest of the way to take a 42-32 lead at halftime.

A free throw by Dietert put Trinity wiithin seven points, 35-42, 13 seconds into the second half, but the Tigers could get no closer.  With 1:26 remaining, Halbleib brought the Tigers to within nine, 61-70, by a jump shot, but the Lutes were able to hold on for the victory.

Trinity shot 37 percent (20-54) from the field, 25 percent (4-16) in 3-point range, and made 19-28 free throws (67.9 percent). Pacific Lutheran hit 44.8 percent (26-58) from the field, 60 percent (9-15) beyond the arc, and 73.7 percent (14-19) at the charity stripe. The Lutes held a 41-33 advantage in rebounding.

The Tigers open their Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference campaign Friday at Southwestern in Georgetown, Texas. Tip-off is at 6 p.m.