TACOMA, Wash. - (From PLU Sports Information) Pacific Lutheran junior wing Kyle Haag caught fire as the Lutes managed to keep their slim playoff hopes alive by defeating Whitworth, 72-57, in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game played Saturday at Olson Auditorium.

Orrell led Whitworth with 15 points

Haag scored 20 first half points on 6-of-6 three-point shooting en route to a game-high 23 points.

The Lutes defense was key to their victory as they held Whitworth to 37 percent shooting from the field. While Whitworth’s Natalie Orrell, Alida Bower, and Teresa Zeitler accounted for 40 of the Pirates’ points, the trio still shot only 13-of-31 from the field and the Pirates were unable establish another scoring threat.

The Lutes trailed early, but with 12:20 remaining in the first half they took their first lead of the game, 13-12 on a Haag three-pointer, and they never looked back. The Lutes would ride Haag’s hot hand the rest of the half and went into the half leading 39-33.

In the second half the hot-shooting Lutes took control. Even though senior Nikki Johnson was fighting an illness, she still added 18 points during the game on 5-of-13 shooting and 8-of-10 from the free throw line. With 18:47 remaining in the second half she would score two consecutive baskets to give the Lutes an eight-point advantage. The Lutes would go on to lead by as many as 15 points in the second half.

Nikki Scott added five points, five assists and five rebounds for the Lutes.

Susan McDaniel had seven rebounds and Bower added four for Whitworth, and Cassie Snyder led the Pirates in assists with five.

With the win PLU goes to 12-9 overall and 7-6 in NWC play. With the loss the Pirates fall to 13-9 overall and 7-6 in the NWC.

Whitworth will try to keep its own playoff hopes alive on Tuesday night at Whitman. The Pirates trail Linfield and Lewis & Clark by a game for third place in the NWC standings.