Corban Pulls Away in Second Half, Defeats Willamette Women's Basketball, 79-49

By Sara Elcano, Assistant Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, ORE. -- Corban University outscored the Willamette University women's basketball team by 25 points in the second half and defeated the Bearcats, 79-49, in non-conference action on Saturday, Dec. 4 at the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center on the Corban campus. Willamette trailed by five points at halftime, 30-25, but could not hang on in the second stanza. Corban improved to 3-4 overall. Willamette is now 1-6 overall and 0-2 in the Northwest Conference.

The Bearcats tied the game at 21-21 with 6:54 remaining in the first half when Maya McFaddin (Jr., F, McMinnville, OR/McMinnville HS) hit a 3-point shot to even the score. She was assisted by Shayna Glynn (Sr., F, Boise, ID/Walla Walla CC) on the play.

Corban responded with a jumper from Rachel Newby to take a 23-21 lead with 6:36 left in the half. The Warriors maintained the lead for the remainder of the game.

Willamette opened the second half with a basket by Kelsey Mueller (Fr., G, Tacoma, WA/Franklin Pierce HS). Andrea Harris (Jr., F, Halsey, OR/Chemeketa CC) added another bucket at the 19:17 mark to pull the Bearcats within one point, 30-29. The Warriors responded with an 11-0 run and did not allow WU to score until the 15:33 mark.

Corban continued to play strong defense and went on a second 11-0 run to open up a 52-31 lead. A layup from Sophie Wilson (So., G, Port Townsend, WA/Port Townsend HS) of Willamette with 11:50 remaining ended the Warriors' scoring streak.

The Warriors extended their lead in the closing minutes, outscoring Willamette 27-16 in the final 11 minutes of the game.

Glynn was 3 of 5 from the field and scored seven points for WU. She added six rebounds and two assists.

Kaileigh Westermann (Jr., F, Belfair, WA/South Kitsap HS) scored a team-high eight points and had seven rebounds. Alex Zennan (Sr., G, Sammamish, WA/Eastlake HS) added seven points.

Mueller chipped in six points for the Bearcats. She was 2 of 3 from the field and added three rebounds.

The Warriors had four players reach double figures in scoring and three players reach double figures in rebounding. Kate Steigleman had a game-high 16 points. Rachel Harter pulled down a game-high 11 rebounds.

Willamette finished the game 19 for 65 (29.2%) from the field and 3 for 15 (20%) from the 3-point line. The Bearcats were successful from the free throw line, connecting on 8 of 10 attempts (80%). The Bearcats forced Corban into 20 turnovers.

The Warriors shot 29 for 68 (42.6%) from the field. The team was 4 of 12 (33.3%) from 3-point range and 17 for 33 (51.5%) from the charity stripe. Corban outrebounded Willamette, 58-36, and had 20 offensive rebounds in the game.

The Bearcats will face Northwest Christian University on Monday, Dec. 6 in Eugene, Ore. at 7:30 p.m. (PST). Northwest Christian defeated Willamette, 72-43, earlier this season. The Beacons are 3-4 overall.

Following Monday's game, Willamette will not play again until Thursday, Dec. 30 at Eastern Washington University. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. (PST) in Cheney, Wash.