Lewis & Clark, Ranked #8, Builds Lead in First Half, Defeats Bearcats, 71-28

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

PORTLAND, ORE. -- The Lewis & Clark College Pioneers surged out to a 41-15 halftime lead on their way to defeating Willamette University in women's basketball, 71-28, at the Pamplin Sports Center on Saturday, Jan. 14. The Pioneers improved to 14-1 overall, 5-1 in the Northwest Conference, while WU dropped to 1-14 on the season, 0-6 in the NWC.

Lewis & Clark, ranked #8 in the D3hoops.com Top 25, led 41-15 at halftime. The Pioneers placed two players in double figures during the half, as Neva Hauser scored 11 points and Megan Spence tallied 10.

L&C shot 42.1% (16 of 38) over the first 20 minutes, while limiting Willamette to just 17.2% (5 of 29).

Jojo DeLong (Fr., PG, Santa Clarita, CA/Canyon HS) of Willamette opened the game with a 3-pointer and the Bearcats were in front 5-4 following two free throws by Mackenzie Lamson (So., Wing, Portland, OR/Lincoln HS), but the Bearcats never led again. The Pioneers countered with six consecutive points to start a 19-3 run for a 23-8 advantage at the 10:47 mark.

The scoring slowed down for Lewis & Clark in the second half, but the Pioneers continued to gradually pull away. The Pios opened the half with a modest 8-4 run to expand the margin to 49-19 with 14:18 left in the game. Willamette tallied the next basket, before L&C went on a 13-0 run.

Katie Kalugin (Fr., F, Woodburn, OR/Woodburn HS) of Willamette ended the run on a short basket in the paint at the 4:59 mark, ending an 8:26 scoreless drought for the Bearcats.

The Pioneers shot 50.0% in the second half (12 of 24) to finish the game at 45.2% (28 of 62). Hauser was L&C's top scorer with 13 points on 6 of 8 field goals. Spence added 12 points for the Pioneers.

Taylor Wang led Lewis & Clark on the boards with eight rebounds. Spence contributed eight rebounds, helping the Pioneers achieve a 55-34 overall edge on the glass.

Willamette shot just 18.9% on the night (10 of 53). Kaileigh Westermann (Sr., F, Belfair, WA/South Kitsap HS) provided WU with seven points, which was matched by Dora Rabih (Sr., F, Denver, CO/John F. Kennedy HS). Rabih topped the rebound chart for the Bearcats with eight boards. Westermann finished with seven rebounds.

The Bearcats will return to action on Friday, Jan. 20, when they host Whitworth University at Cone Field House. Game time in Salem, Ore., is set for 6 p.m. (PST).