Defense Leads Linfield Past Corban, 65-50

Corban (0-2) outrebounded Linfield 41-26 but was unable to generate any offense.

Casey Stephan led the ‘Cats with 12 points in a 65-50 win over Corban College Friday afternoon. Photo courtesy: Linfield Athletics

TACOMA, Wash - Using a suffocating defense and hot shooting down the stretch, Linfield opened up the 2007 season with a 65-50 win over Corban at Memorial Fieldhouse Friday afternoon.

The win coming on opening night of the Allstate Cantillana Tip-Off Classic snaps Linfield’s five-game series losing streak against Corban.

Corban (0-2) outrebounded Linfield 41-26 but was unable to generate any offense. The Wildcats were able to hold the Warriors to 28% shooting for the game, keeping Corban to under 30% shooting in both halves.

On the other side of the floor Linfield shot a high percentage for the game but got especially hot in the second half when the ‘Cats shot 54.5% from the field.

Linfield went against conventional thinking that a season-opener would be a struggle on the offense end. For the game the Wildcats shot 47.6%.

Linfield (1-0) used a well-balanced attack, seeing three players score in double figures. Casey Stephan and Brihtani Lassiter led the ‘Cats with 12 points each, while Kate Stadeli went 3-6 from the field for 10 points.

The Warriors hung with the Wildcats throughout the opening minute s of the second half, before a Lassiter layup gave Linfield a 39-34 which Corban could never cut into the rest of the way. This was in part to the good free-throw shooting of Linfield. The Wildcats went 13-17 from the charity stripe in the second half.

Emily Goette had a big night for Corban, finishing with a double-double. Goette scored 12 points and pulled down 12 rebounds. Jessica Steigleman finished with 10 points for the Warriors. Kate Stadeli ripped down a team-high five rebounds for Linfield.

Linfield forced 24 Corban turnovers while only committing 15 for the game.

NEXT:

Linfield will battle Evergreen State Saturday at 4 p.m. in the second day of the Allstate Cantillana Tip-Off Classic. Corban’s second game of the Allstate Cantillana Tip-Off classic will tip-off tomorrow at 6 p.m. against Puget Sound.

Source: Linfield Athletics

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