TACOMA, Wash. -  The Puget Sound women's basketball team turned a halftime deficit into a 55-45 win over UC Santa Cruz on Saturday. The Loggers (2-0) outscored the Banana Slugs (0-3) 31-18 in the final 20 minutes to key the victory.

Sarah Stewart led the Loggers with 13 points and nine rebounds in a game that proved to be a defensive battle throughout. Sarah Mackey led all players with 16 points for the Slugs.

The Slugs took a lead at the 2:54 mark in part of a 7-1 run toward the end of the half. Jocelyn Riordan swiped the ball as time wound down and sprinted down the court for an easy lay in just before time expired to cut the lead to 27-24.

The teams traded runs in the second half before Amanda Forshay's jumper gave the Loggers a 36-35 lead. The Loggers continued to go on a 7-0 run to take a 41-35 lead, which they would not let go of the rest of the way.

In the second half, the Loggers held the Slugs to 30.4 percent shooting and an 0-for-6 mark in three-point attempts.

The Loggers hit the road next week to take on Seattle Pacific on Tuesday before returning home to host St. Joe's and Concordia next Saturday and Sunday.