OLYMPIA, Wash. – After building an early lead, the Evergreen Geoducks had to dig deep to hold off a feisty Linfield Wildcats team, earning a 55-50 win in a non-conference women’s basketball game on Sunday afternoon at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

After opening the game on a 10-0 scoring run, the Geoducks (3-6) pushed the lead to 17 at 20-3 with 10:02 left to play in the first half.  The Wildcats (1-6) clawed back, tightening the gap to eight with 1:58 left to go in the opening period but the Geoducks grabbed a pair of baskets to take a 29-17 lead into the break.

In the second half, Linfield came out determined to get back in the game and they achieved their goal, closing the differential to just four points with 15:50 left to play and eventually tying the game at 35-35 with 11:06 left to go following a free throw by Kaely Maltman.

Evergreen grabbed the reigns once again, pushing the lead to eight points and the Geoducks wouldn’t give up the lead the rest of the way, battling to the 55-50 win.

Evergreen was led by 18 points from junior Danielle Swain (Rainier, Wash./Black Hills HS).  Sadee Jones (Belfair, Wash./North Mason HS) added 14 points in the win while Sammi Clark (Monroe, Wash./Edmonds CC) chalked up 12 points and a team-high seven rebounds for the green and white.

Linfield was led by 19 points from Katelyn Henson and 14 from Maltman.  The Wildcats held a 39-32 advantage on the boards but it wasn’t enough as the ‘Cats fell to 1-6.

The Geoducks will open up 2013 on Friday night when they resume Cascade Conference play at home against Concordia. Tip with the Cavs is set for 5:30 p.m. at CRC Gymnasium in Olympia, Wash.

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