Willamette Women's Basketball Team Defeats Alumni, 78-53

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

SALEM, ORE. -- A very strong second half performance sent the Willamette University women's basketball team to a 78-53 victory over the Willamette Alumni on Saturday, Nov. 2 in the annual Alumni Game.

The Alumni took a slip lead into the halftime break, but the Bearcats gained control over the final 20 minutes. Willamette surged out to a 60-38 lead and remained a strong lead the rest of the way.

Players for the Alumni included Kaileigh Westermann '12, Sophie Wilson '13, Nikki Clowdsley '10, Kelly (Sorenson) Ioane '01 and Robin (Heard) Buckingham '99. Also on hand for the Alumni team were Cheryl Brown and Laura Hildebrandt.

This year's Bearcat roster featured seniors Rebecca Josephson (Sr., G, Fair Oaks, CA/Del Campo HS) and Alexa Beeson (Sr., G, Portland, OR/Lincoln HS). Overall, the 15 players on the 2013-14 roster include five juniors and eight freshmen.

Willamette will open the regular season against the University of La Verne on Friday, Nov. 15 in the first round of the Bon Appetit Tournament at Lewis & Clark College. Game time in Portland, Ore., is scheduled for 5 p.m. (PST).