by McMINNVILLE, Ore. — ShielTeal Watah (Pit River Tribe) led Warner Pacific’s offense again on Sunday afternoon, but the Knights’ strong perimeter shooting was not enough in a 78-67 nonconference loss at Linfield.
Watah finished with a team-high 22 points on 9-of-22 shooting, including three 3-pointers, and collected eight rebounds, all on the defensive glass. It was her second straight team-high scoring game to open the season, after her 24 points at Pacific Lutheran on Friday.
Warner Pacific opened hot, hitting 8 of 16 shots and 5 of 10 three-pointers in the first quarter, and the teams went to the second quarter tied 23-23. Linfield answered with a 12-0 run midway through the second quarter, and the Wildcats took a 46-40 lead into halftime.
Linfield carried the momentum into the third quarter and stretched its lead to as many as 13 points. The Knights held Linfield to just 13 points in the fourth quarter, and late three-pointers by Watah and Bryten Gumke cut into the lead, but the Wildcats answered each push and closed out the 78-67 win.
Lauren Katyryniuk gave the Knights a spark off the bench with 10 points and two three-pointers, Riley Layton added nine points and three rebounds, and Gumke chipped in eight points off the bench. KJ Cluster directed the offense with a team-high six assists. As a team, Warner Pacific shot 45.8 percent from the field and 10-of-24 (41.7 percent) from three-point range, with 16 assists on 27 made field goals and just 10 turnovers.
Warner Pacific falls to 0-3. The Knights return to action Wednesday, November 11, traveling across Portland for an exhibition against the University of Portland at the Chiles Center, with tip-off at 5 p.m. Pacific.
