Portland, Ore. | The Warner Pacific Women's Basketball team lost a nail-biting 56-59 game to Pacific Lutheran in the home opener in CC Perry Gym on Friday afternoon.
 
In a game that was won at the Free-Throw line, the Lutes of PLU came out hot against the Knights, managing to take an 11-6 lead heading into the first media timeout. Coming out of the timeout, Senior Samantha Morgan was able to splash in a bucket from beyond the arc, cutting the lead to two. Knights Center Kali Kruger used her height to her advantage and tied the game with two-and-a-half minutes to play in the first quarter. PLU managed to go on another run and end the quarter with a 16-14 lead.
 
At the 8-minute mark of the second quarter, WPU Junior Courtney Jackson was able to get to the hole and tie the game at 16. The Knights took their first lead of the game with 6 minutes to play in the first half as Jackson hit a deep three to put the Knights up by one. The two teams exchanged buckets and the lead throughout the first half before PLU converted down low late in the half to head into the break up by 3; 27-24.
 
Coming out of the break, Knights Head Coach Matt Gregg and his staff made an adjustment that was the difference maker in the ball game; a full-court press, using the speed and athleticism of his guards. Gregg's adjustment led way to a 13-6 Knight run, forcing 7 PLU turnovers in the third quarter.. After 30 minutes of play, the Knights were up 44-37.
 
As the fourth quarter began, WPU remained in their press, switching from a zone-press to full-court man-to-man but as the Lutes began to break the Knights' pressure, PLU cut the took the lead back and went ahead by three. As the clock ticked closer to zero, the Knights' lead began to dwindle and the game was within 1. Kali Kruger sunk two massive Free-Throws for Warner Pac to tie the game with just under 2-and-a-half minutes to play. With time winding down and the score tied at 53, Samantha Morgan was fouled driving to the buck, managing to get the foul and sink the shot, she hit the Free Throw and with just 83 seconds to play, WPU led by 3.  After two quick buckets, PLU took a one-point lead with 21 seconds left. Gregg called a timeout to advance the ball but despite a beautiful drawn up play, WPU was unable to convert and the Lutes, managing to hit their last 2 free-throws, walked off with a 3-point victory in Portland.
 
"At the start of the season, I told my girls that Free-Throws would make or break us a few games this season" Coach Gregg said after the game, "and tonight, they broke us".
 
Courtney Jackson led the Knights in scoring with 19 points off the bench, shooting 9-10 from the FT line. Kali Kruger had 8 points, 11 boards and 3 blocks for the Knights.
 
PLU's Madison Sailsbury had a double-double for the Lutes with 24 points and 12 rebounds.
 
The Knights will travel to north Portland on Wednesday for a morning exhibition game against the Pilots of University of Portland. The game is set for 11am.