Bearcats Fall to Whitman, 67-35

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

WALLA WALLA, WASH. -- Whitman College held Willamette University to 16.7% field goal shooting and the Missionaries defeated the Bearcats, 67-35, in a Northwest Conference game on Saturday, Jan. 30. Rebecca Sexton was Whitman's top scorer with 16 points, while Michelle Krall added 10 points and 10 rebounds. Alex Zennan (Jr., G, Sammamish, WA/Eastlake HS) paced Willamette with 12 points.

The Bearcats never found their shooting touch and finished the night just 10 of 60 from the field. Willamette gave up a significant scoring margin from 3-point range, as the 'Cats missed all 11 of their long-range shots, while the Missionaries went 7 of 18 (38.9%) behind the arc.

Willamette hit 15 of 17 free throws (88.2%) for one of the team's top efforts at the charity stripe this season, but it wasn't enough to offset the poor night from the field. Whitman made just 14 of 25 free throws (56.0%).

The Missionaries owned a 13-2 lead 6:11 into the game and held a 32-16 lead at halftime, after Krall scored on a 3-pointer with five seconds left in the opening period. Sexton led all players with nine points at the break. Zennan scored six points for Willamette in the first half.

A 14-2 run ending with 12 consecutive points allowed Whitman to increase its advantage to 46-18 with 14:56 remaining in the game.

Sexton and Krall were joined in double figures for the Missionaries by Hillary White with 12 points. White also earned eight rebounds, four assists and three steals. Sexton grabbed six rebounds and blocked two shots.

Zennan was the only player with more than 10 points for Willamette. Keilyn Fujioka (Jr., Post, Kailua, HI/Iolani School) tacked on six points and a team-high nine rebounds. She also registered three assists, three blocked shots and one steal.

Kaileigh Westermann (So., F, Belfair, WA/South Kitsap HS) hauled down seven boards for Willamette. Junior post Shayna Glynn (Boise, ID/Capital HS/Walla Walla CC) grabbed five rebounds and earned two assists in her first start of the season.

The Bearcats will return home to take on the University of Puget Sound on Friday, Jan. 5. Game time at Cone Field House is set for 6 p.m. (PST).