The homestand for Pacific Lutheran University started with two last-second men’s basketball losses.
And it ended with a pair of impressive double-digit Northwest Conference victories – the latest being a 69-54 win over Lewis & Clark at Olson Auditorium.
Again, the Lutes are back near the leaders as they head back out on the road next Friday at George Fox.
But they could not be any happier with how they finished this up, impressively picking apart No. 18 Puget Sound on Tuesday, and replicating that effort Friday night in demolishing the Pioneers, who had PLU’s number the past two seasons.
“If we defend and share the ball – I don’t know if we’ll win all the rest of our games – but we will be tough for other teams, and that is a step in the right direction for PLU,” Lutes coach Steve Dickerson said.
Indeed, they should.
PLU (7-8, 4-2 in NWC) jumped out to a 15-4 lead in the first 61/2 minutes Friday night. And on the other end, Lewis & Clark suffered through a seven-minute drought.
Again, it was the two captains steering the ship. James Conti (game-high 20 points) constantly beat defenders off the dribble to the basket, and Cameron Schilling (13 points) provided timely shooting and interior defense.
“That is what’s basically causing all of this,” Dickerson said. “They bought into it. Now they are leading. It has been impressive.”
As sloppy and uninspired as the Pioneers (7-7, 2-3) played in the first half, they found a little juice early in the second half to close to 33-28. PLU then went on two runs, scoring on four of five possessions to grab a 43-30 advantage.
And if Lewis & Clark had an answer, PLU beeped in first – again behind Conti, who led the Lutes’ five consecutive scoring trips with two baskets, and the PLU lead was 55-38 with 8:58 remaining.
“Lewis & Clark is always big and athletic, and when you look at us, we are 6-foot-5 at the tallest,” Conti said. “That is the way we have to win – starting defensively and sharing the ball and getting everyone shots.”
Dickerson called it one of the best homestands he has ever been a part of as a coach.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Lewis & Clark 57, at PLU 51: The 10th-ranked Pioneers took control with a 10-0 run midway through the first half and got out of Olson Auditorium with a road victory.
Neva Hauser completed the stretch with a layin to give Lewis & Clark (13-1, 4-1 in NWC) a 23-13 lead with 7:54 to go.
PLU (4-11, 1-5) trimmed the deficit to 55-51 with 14 seconds remaining on Austin Schorno’s basket, but ended up losing its seventh in a row.
In other news, the team raised $3,600 for breast cancer awareness, honoring the mother of guard Shelly Kilcup, who was recently diagnosed with it.
Todd Milles: 253-597-8442 todd.milles@thenewstribune.com
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