Pirates Make 9 of 18 Three-Pointers to Defeat Bearcats, 80-60

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

SALEM, ORE -- Whitworth University sank 9 of 18 three-points shots and received a double-double from Taylor LaMoreaux, as the Pirates defeated Willamette University, 80-60, in Northwest Conference women's basketball action on Saturday, Jan. 15 at Cone Field House. Willamette's Alex Zennan (Sr., G, Sammamish, WA/Eastlake HS) scored her 1,000th point during the game.

Whitworth upped its record to 7-8 overall, 3-3 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 1-12 on the season, 0-6 in the NWC.

Zennan registered her 1,000th point on a layup with 7:42 left in the game. She was fouled on the basket, and converted the free throw for a three-point play. Zennan also added a free throw at the 5:00 mark to finish the game with eight points, giving her 1,002 points in her career.

LaMoreaux led the Pirates by scoring 17 points, hitting 7 of 9 field goals and contributing 10 rebounds. She earned 15 points and nine rebounds in the second half, after playing just six minutes in the first half due to foul trouble.

The Bearcats had to battle from behind for most the game. Willamette scored the first basket of the contest, a layup by Maya McFaddin (Jr., F, McMinnville, OR/McMinnville HS) on a nice assist from Shayna Glynn (Sr., F, Boise, ID/Capital HS/Walla Walla CC) at the 18:33 mark, but the Bearcats didn't score for more than three minutes.

Meanwhile, the Pirates started pouring in three-pointers as they put together a 16-0 run. Whitworth sank four three-pointers during the run, including two by Emily Travis. Willamette ended its scoreless streak with 15:13 on the clock, when Kaileigh Westermann (Jr., F, Belfair, WA/South Kitsap HS) connected on a pair of free throws to cut the lead to 16-4.

The Pirates extended their lead to 26-10 when Lexi Belcher drilled a 3-pointer with 12:50 remaining in the half. Whitworth also led by 16 points, 29-13, on another 3-pointer by Belcher at 11:21. It was the Pirates' seventh successful 3-pointer on their first nine long-range attempts.

With most of Whitworth's 3-point barrage completed -- the Pirates went just 2 for 9 on 3-pointers the rest of the game -- Willamette gradually battled back. A layup by Westermann with 7:24 left in the half pulled the Bearcats within nine points at 32-23. Later, a jumper by Breanne Faehnrich (Fr., G, Newcastle, WA/Liberty HS) cut the margin to seven points, 34-27, at the 5:05 mark.

Whitworth outscored the Bearcats 12-6 over the last five minutes of the opening stanza to take a 46-33 halftime lead. The Pirates were 7 of 13 on 3-pointers during the first half.

Erin Barclay (Sr., G, Snohomish, WA/Bothell HS) of Willamette scored the first points of the second half on a 3-pointer, but Whitworth countered with a 9-4 run. Jamie Lyons tallied five points during the surge by the Pirates, including a 3-pointer with 15:44 left to give Whitworth a 55-40 lead. The Pirates eventually increased the lead to 74-48 with 7:51 remaining.

For the game, Whitworth shot 44.1% from the field (26 of 59) and made 19 of 22 free throws (86.4%). Joining LaMoreaux in double figures were Emily Travis with 16 points and Lyons with 10.

The Pirates claimed a 42-27 rebounding advantage. LaMoreaux's 10 boards led the way, while Travis added six rebounds and three players earned five boards apiece.

Westermann was Willamette's top scorer with 16 points on 7 of 11 field goals and 2 for 4 at the line. She also supplied the Bearcats with five rebounds and three assists. Barclay matched Zennan with eight points.

Willamette made 24 of 58 field goals (41.4%) and converted 10 of 13 free throws (76.9%). The Bearcats hit just 2 of 11 three-pointers, with Barclay going 2 for 5.

Up next for Willamette is an NWC game at Lewis & Clark College on Jan. 21. Game time in Portland, Ore., is scheduled for 6 p.m. (PST).