WALLA WALLA, Wash. – For the fourth time in five seasons, the 17th-ranked Puget Sound Loggers hit the 20-win mark, defeating the Whitman Missionaries, 74-70, in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game on Saturday night at the Sherwood Center in Walla Walla, Wash.

In the first half, the Missionaries looked to control the game early, holding the lead for the six-plus minutes of the game. Puget Sound then went on an 8-0 lead to take a three-point lead and the Loggers continued to build the lead.

The maroon-clad Logger pushed the lead to nine points with 8:13 left to play on a jumper by Sarah Stewart (Burlington, Wash./Burlington-Edison) that put the Loggers up, 27-18. Whitman powered back to get within two points at halftime but the Loggers still held a 37-35 halftime lead.

Puget Sound blew the game open in the second half, using a 16-2 run to pull ahead 52-27 with 15:27 left to go. The Loggers continued to hold off the upset-minded Missionaries and Puget Sound put the game on cruise control as they picked up their 20th win of the season with the 74-70 victory.

The Loggers were led by 20 points from sophomore Jocelyn Riordan (Lake Forest Park, Wash./Shorecrest). Senior Natasha Ludwig (Hilo, Hawaii/Waiakea) collected the double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds while Claire Ely (Walnut Creek, Calif./Northgate) put up 15 points in the win.

Whitman was led by 20 points from Hilary White. Mary Madden added 16 points while Michelle Krall chipped in 13 points. Kelly Peterson added 11 points in the losing effort to wrap up the Missionaries in double-figures.

The Loggers will next be in action on Friday evening when they play host to Pacific on Pink Zone night. Tip with the Boxers is set for 6:00 p.m. at Memorial Fieldhouse and all fans are encouraged to wear pink to support breast cancer awareness.