SALEM, Oregon – The No. 21/14 Puget Sound women's basketball team erased a 14-point halftime deficit to beat Willamette, 81-75, Saturday evening.
 
The Loggers entered the midway point trailing, 39-25, but Puget Sound is accustomed to big third quarters. Paige Gerhart hit a jumper midway through the third to cut the deficit to single digits, 46-38. Following a Willamette turnover, Grace Pytynia-Hillier scored in the paint to make it a two-possession game, 46-40.
 
The Loggers closed out the third quarter with a 10-run. Katie Minnehan and Jenai Ancheta combined for eight points during that run, but the Loggers trailed by one point, 51-50.
 
Puget Sound got the first bucket of the fourth quarter when Samantha Swartout made a layup to give Puget Sound a one-point lead. The game was tied, 58-58, with 5:46 on the clock when Minnehan capitalized on a three-point play. It was just the momentum swing Puget Sound needed, as the Loggers pushed their lead to double digits just three minutes later, 72-61.
 
Four Loggers scored in double figures, led by Swartout's 18 points. Minnehan totaled 17 points and five steals. Ancheta and Pytynia-Hillier came off the bench to score 14 points and 10 points, respectively. It was the first time this season that Ancheta, a freshman, scored in double figures.
 
The Loggers' road stretch continues next week at Pacific and Linfield, Jan. 13-14.