The Concordia University, Nebraska women's basketball team won the title at the inaugural Pacific Northwester Lutheran Invitational Tournament with a 81-62 win over the Pacific Lutheran University Lutes on Saturday night at Cavalier Gymnasium in Portland, Ore. Three players reached double figures for the Bulldogs (5-0) who remain perfect on the season. The Lutes (1-1) opened the game with an offensively flurry before being slowed by the Bulldogs press.
Kyle Haag opened the scoring for the Lutes, nailing a three-pointer from the top of the key on the opening possession. She added another three and a 15-foot jumper to give the Lutes a 7-6 lead three and half minutes into the game.
Concordia opened up an eleven point advantage, scoring on their next eight possessions. The scoring run was sparked by a triple by Jordan Schmoldt on a kick-out pass from Danae Koopman. The Bulldogs also got back-to-back three-point field goals by Melissa Tinkham.
Pacific Lutheran then held the Bulldogs scoreless for over two minutes, cutting the lead to five. After a timeout Concordia responded, closing the half on a 16-5 run for a 44-26 lead at intermission.
The Lutes would get no closer than 10 the rest of the game, as the Bulldogs pushed their lead to 25 on a fastbreak layup by Tinkham with 4:42 remaining.
As a team the Bulldogs had the advantage in almost every statistical category, including out-rebounding the Lutes (47-35). Libby Hirssig had a game-high eight boards for Concordia to go along with four points.
Tinkham led the way offensively, scoring 19 points on 8-of-15 shooting from the field. She also grabbed five boards. Whitney Stichka finished with 16 points, going 6-of-8 from the charity strip.
Both Tinkham and Stichka were named to the five-person all-tournament team, with Tinkham taking MVP honors. It is the second straight tournament that Tinkham as been named the MVP.
For the second straight game Jenni Lovegrove was in double figures with 10 points. Schmoldt dished out five assists and had six points, all from beyond the arc, as well. Stacy Scheer added nine points off the bench. In all 10 different Bulldogs scored.
Pacific Lutheran was paced by Trinity Gibbons and Haag who each had 13 points. Melissa Richardson and Emily Voorhies contributed nine points apiece.