FOREST GROVE, Ore. – Jocelyn Riordan's layup with five seconds left in the game proved to be the difference as the Puget Sound women's basketball team came away with a 69-67 win. As the Loggers (4-2, 1-0 NWC) escaped with the road win, they handed the Boxers (5-1, 1-1 NWC) their first loss of 2011-12.

"Our leaders really steeped up tonight," said head coach Loree Payne. "We talked about locking down defensively (at halftime) and we really dug down and made some huge stops."

Kelsey McKinnis led the Loggers with 20 points in the conference-opening win. Sarah Stewart added seven points and pulled down 15 rebounds.

In a game of dramatic runs, the lead changed nine times and was tied eight different times. However, it was a Logger run to start the second half that seemed to have the most impact. Down 41-36 at the half, the Loggers went on a 16-0 run over the first five and a half minutes of the second half to take a commanding 52-41 lead.

That would be the only double digit lead of the game as Heather Hitch scored two of her team-high 20 points for the Boxers on the next trip down the floor to cut the lead to nine. The Boxers cut the lead to two with a Paige Jensen layup but Erin Stumbaugh responded with a three-pointer for the Loggers to push the lead to 61-56 with six minutes left.

The Boxers continued to fight and eventually tied the game with 16 seconds remaining. Hitch's layup pulled the game into its eighth tie. However, Riordan got into the lane with five seconds left regain the lead for the Loggers and the defense locked down on the final Boxer possession to preserve the win.

Four Loggers finished with double digits. Riordan and Ashley Agcaoili each tallied11 points while Lindsay Layland added 10 points. Jensen finished with 17 points for the Boxers and Erica Schultz added 15.

The Loggers were 10-of-11 from the free throw line on the night to aid in the victory. In the second half, the Loggers held the Boxers to 28.6 percent shooting to key their second half surge.

The Loggers head down to Salem, Ore. tomorrow to take on Willamette at 6 p.m.