Whitworth Swept Away By Plu

Pacific Lutheran University’s Erik Peterson rejected a Kevin Wright 3-point attempt with 6 seconds left, helping preserve the Lutes’ 89-85 men’s basketball upset of Whitworth College on Friday night.

The NAIA Division II No. 7-ranked Pirates (4-3 Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges, 14-7 overall) couldn’t overcome a spirited Lutes team (2-5, 8-12) and its dimly-lit gymnasium clad with orange and yellow curtains on one side of the court.

Despite the fact half the fans in Olson Auditorium were Whitworth supporters, it’s the Lutes’ home, and they weren’t to be denied.

The Lutes’ Matt Ashworth scored 20 points and Andrew Mills buried 6 of 7 shots, most at critical stages, to finish with 19 points.

“Winning on the road in this conference is tough,” Pirates coach Warren Friedrichs said.

Pacific Lutheran led 43-33 at halftime, but Whitworth battled back, eventually leading in the second half before finally succumbing.

“Just when you think you’re in control, they hit a couple of baskets to stay right in it,” Friedrichs said. “It takes so much energy to get back - by the time you do it … Boy, that Mills hit some big shots.”

The Lutes withstood the hot second-half hand of Roman Wickers, who led all scorers with 26 points on 9-for-17 shooting.

Early on, however, the Pirates dug themselves a hole. They were outhustled to loose balls and allowed PLU’s guards to penetrate, forcing double coverage and leaving at least one Lutes player open for a shot.

The Pirates took their last lead at 85-84 off a Nate Dunham basket with just more than a minute to play.

Ashworth, Mills and Peterson sank five free throws for PLU to round out the scoring.

Pacific Lutheran 89, Whitworth 85

WHITWORTH (4-3, 14-7)

Jones 0-2 0-0 0, Wright 5-12 6-8 16, Dunham 6-10 0-1 12, Stern 7-12 2-2 18, Wickers 9-17 3-3 26, Weston 1-3 0-0 3, Vargas 0-2 0-0 0, Arkills 0-1 2-2 2, Beekman 0-0 0-0 0, Palmer 2-5 4-4 8. Totals 30-64 17-20 85.

PACIFIC LUTHERAN (2-5, 8-12)

Mackey 2-8 0-0 4, Dahlberg 4-7 0-0 8, Ashworth 8-11 4-5 20, Kelly 0-0 0-0 0, Peterson 7-15 3-4 17, Mills 6-7 3-5 19, Douglass 1-1 0-0 3, Peirce 0-1 0-0 0, Sundquist 7-10 0-1 14, Maners 0-2 0-0 0, Carrell 0-0 0-0 0, Fix 2-6 0-0 4. Totals 37-68 10-15 89.

Halftime score - PLU 43, Whitworth 33. 3-point goals - Whitworth 8-20 (Jones 0-1, Wright 0-2, Stern 2-5, Wickers 5-8, Weston 1-3, Vargas 0-1), PLU 5-17 (Mackey 0-2, Dahlberg 0-2, Peterson 0-5, Mills 4-4, Douglas 1-1, Peirce 0-1, Sundquist 0-2). Total fouls - Whitworth 16, PLU 16. Fouled out - None. Technical fouls - None. Rebounds - Whitworth 36 (Wright, Dunham, 7 each), PLU 34 (Ashworth, Mills, 5 ea.). Assists - Whitworth 9 (Stern 3), PLU 17 (Mills 6). Att. - 750.

WOMEN

PLU 62, Whitworth 61

Jennifer Tissue’s off-balance, 18-foot jump shot bounced off the rim as time expired, preserving a win for Pacific Lutheran.

Whitworth, leader of the Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges, falls to 5-2, 10-11 overall. The last-place Lutes are 2-5, 9-10.

The Pirates led 34-24 at halftime, but in the second half, the roof caved in.

The foundation of Whitworth’s horrible second-half play goes back to the past week of practice, according to head coach Helen Higgs.

“We didn’t respect them enough in practice,” Higgs said. “We didn’t come over here with the intensity that you need for a conference opponent.”

The Pirates did at the start of the game, anyway. Whitworth jumped to a 9-0 lead and at least maintained a business-like appearance. The Lutes didn’t score until 13:57 were left in the first half.

But PLU started the second half with a 12-3 run and took the lead with 13:15 to play.

Sparking the comeback was freshman Kim Corbray. She led PLU with 16 points and registered the game-winning basket with 10 seconds left.

Driving against Tissue, Corbray banked in a 6-footer and was fouled, but she missed the free throw for the final margin.

“That’s a freshman running the point,” said PLU coach Mary Ann Kluge. “She doesn’t even know that’s the first-place team in the conference. And I don’t tell her anything before the game.”

The Pirates didn’t help themselves at the free-throw line. They shot 7 for 14 as PLU shot 12 for 23. Whitworth also had 28 turnovers to 19 for the Lutes.

“They need to be able to motivate themselves to get ready,” Higgs said. “If you don’t play well, you won’t win on the road.”

WHITWORTH (5-2, 10-11) Sherer 5-9 2-2 12, Roberts 4-7 2-4 10, Northington 3-5 0-3 6, McFadden 0-6 2-2 2, Sweeney 6-14 1-2 17, Tissue 6-11 0-1 12, Elliott 1-2 0-0 2, Dehn 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-55 7-14 61. PACIFIC LUTHERAN (2-5, 9-10)

Weberg 2-4 0-0 4, Wilson 6-9 1-2 15, Nelson 2-9 1-2 5, Corbray 5-10 6-8 16, Hoseth 2-7 3-7 7, Hampton 0-0 0-0 0, Riches 4-8 1-2 9, Preiskorn 1-1 0-2 2, Price 2-3 0-0 4, Weiland 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-52 12-23 62.

Halftime-Whitworth 34, PLU 24. Three-point goals-Whitworth 4-7 (Sweeney 4-6), PLU 2-4 (Wilson 2-4). Rebounds-Whitworth 39 (Northington 11), PLU30 (Nelson 8). Assists-Whitworth 15 (McFadden 7), PLU 5 (Corbray 2). Personal fouls-Whitworth 18, PLU 16. Fouled out-None. Technicals-None. Attendance-350.