Puget Sound Rallies Past Bearcats, 65-49

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University led #22-ranked University of Puget Sound at halftime, 28-21, but the Loggers rallied for a 65-49 win at Cone Field House on Saturday, Feb. 7. Puget Sound improved to 18-3 overall, 9-3 in the NWC, while the Bearcats moved to 6-15 overall, 1-11 in the NWC.

Emily Sheldon led UPS with 18 points, while Katy Ainslie scored 16 points and hauled down nine boards. Amanda Forshay earned 13 points and 13 rebounds. The Loggers are ranked #22 in the D3hoops.com Top 25.

Jojo DeLong (Sr., PG, Santa Clarita, CA/Canyon HS) topped Willamette with 15 points and six assists. She also grabbed six rebounds. Katie Kalugin(Sr., G, Woodburn, OR/Woodburn HS) recorded a double-double with 13 points and 15 rebounds. Kalugin moved into ninth place on WU's all-time rebounding list with 442 career boards.

Kylie Towry (So./Fr., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS) and Julia Brand (Sr., F, Kaneohe, HI/Punahou School) each scored nine points for the Bearcats. Brand grabbed five rebounds and was credited with three assists. Towry achieved four rebounds.

Willamette celebrated National Girls and Women in Sports Day at the game, which featured a crowd of 560 fans, including a variety of youth teams from the area. Youngsters were able to meet the Bearcat women's basketball team and other Willamette women's athletes following the match-up with Puget Sound.

DeLong scored the game's first points on a 3-pointer with 17:27 left in the half to spark a 10-2 start for Willamette. The Bearcats extended the lead to 19-8 with 8:08 on the clock. WU sank five 3-pointers in the first 12 minutes, including two each by DeLong and Towry.

The Bearcats led 21-10 before the Loggers went on a 7-0 run to pull within four points on a 3-pointer by Emily Sheldon at the 3:44 mark. Brand tallied the next four points for WU on a pair of free throws and a jump shot for a 25-17 edge with 1:52 remaining.

Brand of Willamette and Ainslie form UPS each had eight points at halftime.

The Loggers, who were limited to 26.3% shooting (10 of 38) in the first half, connected on 51.4% of their field goals (19 of 37) in the second half. Puget Sound used a 11-2 run in the first 4:09 of the second half to claim a 32-30 advantage. Six of the points were scored by Ainslie. Sheldon completed the run with a 3-point basket.

WU tied the score at the end of its next possession on a layup by Kalugin with 15:17 to go. Later, Kalugin achieved another tie -- this time at 38-38 -- on a layup with 12:20 left.

Puget Sound responded with a 9-0 run for a 47-38 lead with 10:22 on the clock, and the Loggers led the rest of the game. Forshay earned all nine points during the run.

The Bearcats pulled within 47-42 on a jumper by Kalugin at the 9:24 mark, but eight straight points for UPS extended the margin to 55-42. Willamette was still within striking distance, 57-49, following a jumper by Kalugin with 4:00 to go. The Loggers retained the lead by scoring the game's final eight points.

Puget Sound shot 38.7% overall (29 of 75) and built a 50-36 rebounding margin. UPS lost the ball just three times and forced Willamette into 12 turnovers. The Bearcats connected on 31.5% of their shots from the field (17 of 54). WU made 7 of 19 three-pointers (36.8%), while the Loggers went 2 for 8 on 3-point attempts.