It has been an eventful weekend for the Puget Sound Loggers women’s basketball team. They traveled south to Oregon to face Lewis and Clark Friday Feb. 17 and Linfield Saturday Feb. 18. During both games it was apparent that the Loggers fought hard. These were the final games that would potentially help determine seeding before the NWC tournament, which begins next week.
On Friday, the Loggers were dealt a 79-62 loss against the number-nine-ranked Lewis and Clark. In the beginning of the game the Loggers took an early 2-0 lead thanks to junior Lindsay Layland (Homer, Alaska), but this was the only lead the Loggers had throughout the game. Afterwards, Lewis and Clark took the lead and the Loggers trailed Lewis and Clark for the rest of the night.
By the end of the first half, Lewis and Clark had a comfortable 47-27 double-digit lead over the Loggers. Even at the start of the second half, the Loggers were unable to regain control of the game. During the game both Layland and junior Kelsey McKinnis (Ashland, Ore.) added eight points to the Loggers, while junior Sarah Stewart (Burlington, Wash.) led the Loggers with 10 points.
With less than four minutes into Saturday’s game, McKinnis scored her 1,000th career point on a pair of free throws. This was great momentum going into this game and helped the Loggers beat Linfield 75-61.
Senior Jocelyn Rirordan (Lake Forest Park, Wash.) and freshman Ashley Agcaoili (Kaneohe, Hawaii) put the Loggers ahead at the start of the game, but Linfield came back strong and took the early lead. Control of the game was swapped between both teams for some time, until a three point shot by McKinnis put the Loggers back on top 27-24, and they remained on top for the rest of the game.
At the end of the first half the Loggers were winning 37-33. When the second half started, it was clear that Linfield did not have a chance against the Loggers. At one point, there was 19-point difference between the teams. The Loggers easily held Linfield at bay in order to win their final game of the regular season.
McKinnis led the Loggers with 19 points, and freshman Amanda Forshay also helped the Logger effort with 18 points and seven rebounds.
The Loggers will play a semifinal game against NWC conference champions George Fox on Thursday at 7 p.m. for the start of the conference tournament.
