Puget Sound Ends Game with 18-3 Run, Defeats Willamette, 70-51

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

TACOMA, WASH. -- The University of Puget Sound used an 18-3 run in the final 9:03 to pull away from Willamette University for a 70-51 win over the Bearcats in Northwest Conference women's basketball action on Friday, Jan. 27. Kelsey McKinnis led the Loggers with 18 points on 7 of 13 shooting. Jocelyn Riordan added 13 points and grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for UPS.

Kaileigh Westermann (Sr., F, Belfair, WA/South Kitsap HS) was Willamette's top scorer with 15 points. Mackenzie Lamson (So., Wing, Portland, OR/Lincoln HS), who returned to action after missing two games due to an injury, tacked on 14 points for the Bearcats. Westermann also provided WU with a team-high seven rebounds and four steals.

WU pulled within four points, 52-48, on a pair of free throws by Katelyn Nordlien (Fr., Wing, Salem, OR/North Salem HS) with 9:16 remaining. McKinnis scored on a layup 13 seconds later and added another layup at the 8:32 mark to register the first four points in the Loggers' decisive run.

Puget Sound improved to 10-8 on the season, as the Loggers upped their NWC record to 6-3. Willamette moved to 1-17 overall, 0-9 in the NWC.

Both teams finished with similar shooting percentages from the floor, but Puget Sound forced Willamette into 24 turnovers, while the Loggers lost the ball 15 times. In addition, the Loggers claimed a 48-38 rebounding margin, including 18-10 in offensive boards.

As a result, Puget Sound had 12 more field goal attempts than the Bearcats. The Loggers shot 37.5% (24 of 64) overall, while the Bearcats connected on 36.5% from the field (19 of 52). Neither team gained success from 3-point range, as WU hit 3 of 12 trifectas and UPS went 4 of 19.

Puget Sound earned an edge at the free throw line, where the Loggers sank 18 of 28 attempts (64.3%). Willamette was 10 for 20 at the line.

McKinnis and Riordan led three UPS players in double figures. The third Logger with double-digit scoring was Amanda Forshay, who tallied 10 points to go with seen rebounds and three steals. Lindsay Layland and Sarah Stewart each grabbed eight rebounds for Puget Sound.

Westermann and Lamson were the only Bearcats in double figures. Julia Brand (Fr., Wing, Kaneohe, HI/Punahou School) chipped in eight points.

The score was tied 6-6 just over four minutes into the game. Puget Sound achieved the next eight points on a trifecta by Forshay and five consecutive points by McKinnis -- on a 3-pointer and a jump shot. Lamson answered with a 3-pointer for WU to cut the lead to 14-9 with 12:46 left in the half, but UPS extended the margin to nine points, 18-9, at the 11:11 mark.

Willamette battled back within three points two times during the first half, including 20-17 following a jumper by Lamson with 7:45 on the clock. Forshay responded with a 3-pointer 21 seconds later and the Loggers maintained the lead. UPS held a 36-27 lead at the break.

The Loggers increased their advantage to 42-29 early in the second half, but the Bearcats continued to battle. WU got within seven points, 47-40, when Jojo DeLong (Fr., PG, Santa Clarita, CA/Canyon HS) connected on a 3-pointer with 14:13 left.

Riordan gave UPS the next basket on a layup, but Willamette tallied the next four points, as Brand hit a free throw with 13:43 remaining and Lamson provided a layup and a foul shot with 12:37 to go. The three-point play by Lamson cut the margin to 49-44.

WU reduced the lead to four points on Nordlien's free throws with 9:16 left, but the Bearcats managed just three points the rest of the way.

Puget Sound increased the lead to 58-48 with 6:42 remaining. Westermann scored on a layup for WU with 6:20 on the clock, but UPS tacked on 10 more points before Westermann added a free throw at the 2:24 mark.

Willamette will play again on Saturday, Jan. 28 at Pacific Lutheran University. Game time in Tacoma, Wash., is set for 6 p.m. (PST).