BOX SCORE

TACOMA, Wash. – Freshman Tess Bennett (Sutherlin, Ore.) scored a game and career-high 17 points on 7-for-16 shooting from the field and a 3-for-6 performance at the free throw line, but it was not enough as Corban's women's basketball team fell to NCAA Division III member Pacific Lutheran, 69-61, Friday evening inside Olson Auditorium.

Despite holding a slim one-point halftime lead (26-25), Corban could not overcome a 44-point second half by the host Lutes and fell to 0-4 on the season. Meanwhile, Pacific Lutheran won its season-opener and improved to 1-0 on its young season.

Bennett was aided in scoring by junior Jennesa Miller (Mica, Wash.) and sophomore Becky Buhler (Clackamas, Ore.), who tallied 13 points each. Miller was 5-for-13 from the field and 3-for-6 at the free throw line, while Buhler was 5-for-11 from the field that included a 3-for-6 showing from behind the three-point arc.

Sophomore Rachel Harter (Grass Valley, Calif.) grabbed a team and season-high 10 rebounds, while fellow sophomore Katie Steigleman (Eugene, Ore.) turned in an eight-point, eight-rebound performance to go along with Bennett's seven boards. Freshman Emily Tsugawa (Gladstone, Ore.) led the Warriors in assists with three, while a trio of Corban players – Miller, Steigleman, and Tsugawa – registered a game-high tying three steals each.

Pacific Lutheran was led in scoring by Sarah Backstrom with 16 points on 7-for-13 shooting from the field, while Melissa Pixler and Jordan Westering added 14 points each in the victory. Tracy Goehri added nine points and a game-high 12 rebounds, while Backstrom handed out a game-high five assists to go along with Pixler's game-high tying three steals.

Corban will return to the hardwood tomorrow – Saturday, November 21st – against NCAA Division I member Eastern Washington beginning at 2:05 p.m. in Cheney, Washington.