Setting the Scene: After two weeks on the road, the Lutes are finally back inside the friendly confines of Olson Gymnasium, hosting George Fox in a mid-week Northwest Conference showdown.
Home Attendance Policy: Masks are required while inside Olson Gymnasium, regardless of vaccination status. Eating and drinking inside the building is also prohibited. Thank you for your cooperation and helping stop the spread of COVID-19.
Online Ticketing: The Lutes have made it easier for fans to attend home sporting events, signing a deal with HomeTown Ticketing to be the department's official electronic ticket provider. Lute fans can now purchase basketball tickets online at GoLutes.com/tickets or on the HomeTown Ticketing mobile app available on iOS and Android devices.
Series History: The Lutes and Bruins have met 58 times since the 1980-1981 season with George Fox enjoying a 39-17 advantage in the series. The conference rivals last tangled in 2019-2020 with GFU winning 59-25 and 64-50.
About the Lutes: Pacific Lutheran (4-9, 1-5 NWC) achieved mixed results over the past two weeks on the road. The road swing began on Jan. 14 with a wild affair against seventh-ranked Whitman that featured 13 lead changes and nine ties. In the end it was the host Blues who would come out on top by an 86-59 score line.
Josie Napoli paced the Lutes with 18 points in the setback and tallied 18 more the following night as Pacific Lutheran downed Whitworth 66-64. Stacie Spahr was the star of the show, scoring on a putback with four seconds left to put the Lutes on top.
On Tuesday, Spahr and Ava Edmonds combined for 25 points and 15 rebounds but it wasn't enough, coming up short 70-58 at Puget Sound.
Josie Napoli and Ava Edmonds lead the Lutes in scoring heading into the George Fox game, averaging 13.4 and 11.0 points per game, respectively. Stacie Spahr has led the team on the glass, hauling in 8.9 rebounds per game.
About the Bruins: George Fox (5-9, 1-4 NWC) opened the New Year with a 67-62 overtime win over Lewis & Clark on Jan. 4 but has struggled since, dropping games against the Whits.
The Bruins came up short 66-59 to seventh-ranked Whitman on Friday while ending on the wrong side of a 72-62 decision against Whitworth on Saturday.
Alyssa Wells is the Bruins' leading scorer, averaging 9.2 points per game while Rachel Parks adds. 7.7 ppg. Headlining GFU's rebounding efforts is Emily Stephens, hauling in 6.0 rpg with Jordan Ryan averaging 5.5 rpg.
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Next Home Game:
Jan. 28 vs. Pacific University at 6 p.m.
PLU Non-Discrimination Policy: Pacific Lutheran University does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, disability or age in its programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Title IX Coordinator Jennifer Childress-White; 253-535-7361; TitleIX@plu.edu