Wang Scores 24 Points to Lead Lewis & Clark Past Bearcats, 68-51

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

PORTLAND, ORE. -- Taylor Wang scored 24 points and hauled down 12 rebounds to lead Lewis and Clark College to an 68-51 victory over Willamette University on Saturday, Jan. 18 at the Pamplin Sports Center. Wang hit 9 of 14 field goals and was 6 for 6 at the free throw line.

L&C advanced its record to 9-6, including 4-2 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette ended the game at 3-12 overall, 1-5 in the NWC.

The Bearcats scored 21 seconds into the game on a layup by Katie Kalugin (Jr., G, Woodburn, OR/Woodburn HS), but the Pioneers tallied the next six points, including two free throws and a short inside shot by Taylor Wang. Casey Zinn completed the run by L&C with a layup at the 17:36 mark.

Willamette charged back with a 6-0 run of its own.

Julia Brand (Jr., F, Kaneohe,HI/Punahou School) started the run with a pair of free throws. After Alex Wert (Fr., F, Spokane, WA/St. George's HS) tacked on a free throw, Alexa Beeson (Sr., G, Portland, OR/Lincoln HS) scored on a driving layup and was fouled with 15:30 on the clock. She converted the extra shot for an 8-6 lead.

The Pioneers scored the next five baskets to claim a 16-8 advantage at the 10:36 mark. Wang and Cassie Beucherie each scored two of the baskets, while Avisat Afolabi scored once. Kalugin put in a layup for Willamette to cut the deficit to 16-10.

L&C eventually moved out to a 26-14 lead. The Pioneers held a 30-18 edge at halftime, led by 14 points from Wang.

An 8-4 run in the first 3:10 of the second half extended Lewis and Clark's lead to 38-22. The final six points were scored on back-to-back 3-pointers by Zinn and Daron Dean. Another 3-pointer by Zinn on the Pioneers' next possession advanced the score to 41-22.

Consecutive baskets by Kalugin and Jojo DeLong (Jr., PG, Santa Clarita, CA/Canyon HS) reduced the deficit to 15 points with 14:16 remaining, but Lewis & Clark surge out to a 49-26 margin with an 8-0 run.

WU pulled within 59-44 with 4:45 left on a 3-pointer by Arianna Musser (Jr., Seattle, WA/The Bush School), but couldn't get closer.

Wang was one of two Pioneers in double figures. Zinn scored 12 points, while hitting 3 of 5 field goals, including both of her 3-point attempts.

The Bearcats received a solid game from Kalugin, who finished with 20 points and six rebounds in 36 minutes. Savanna Steele (Fr., PG, West Richland, WA/Hanford HS) scored nine points for the Bearcats on 2 of 3 field goals and 4 of 4 free throws.

DeLong led WU with eight rebounds, five assists and three steals. She also provided five points.

L&C shot 47.2% for the game (25 of 53), including 54.2% (13 of 24) in the second half. The Pioneers were 4 for 7 on 3-pointers during the final 20 minutes, after going 0 for 8 in the first half. L&C went

Led by Wang's 12 boards, the Pioneers achieved a 42-25 rebounding margin. L&C went 14 for 17 (82.4%) at the charity stripe.

Willamette connected on 37.0% of its shots (17 of 46), with a strong 54.5% in the second half (12 of 22). WU hit 5 of 15 3-pointers and 12 of 22 free throws (54.4%).

The Bearcats will return to action on Friday, Jan. 24 when they host George Fox University in a Northwest Conference game. Tipoff at Cone Field House is slated for 6 p.m. (PST).