Carroll Defeats Willamette in Women's Basketball Exhibition, 79-57

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Carroll College placed three players in double figures to defeat Willamette University, 79-57, in a women's basketball game on Saturday, Nov. 8 at Cone Field House. It was an exhibition game for Willamette, which competes in NCAA Division III, but was a regular season game for Carroll, which competes in the NAIA. The Saints, from Helena, Mont., improved to 2-2.

It was the Bruce Henderson Memorial Game, played in honor of former Willamette women's basketball Head Coach Bruce Henderson, who collapsed and died during practice on Dec. 8, 2008. The new women's basketball team room is named after Coach Henderson. Many of his players, coaching colleagues and friends attended the game.

Willamette will play its regular season opener on on Saturday, Nov. 15 against Schreiner University (Texas) at the Bon Appetit Tournament, hosted by Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Ore. The Bearcats will play Montclair State University (N.J.) in the tournament on Sunday, Nov. 16. Both games are scheduled to begin at 12 p.m. (PST).

Bailey Snelling topped the Carroll scoring chart with 20 points. She was 7 of 11 from the field, including 5 of 6 from 3-point range. Jordan Johnston tacked on 18 points and was 7 of 9 on field goals. Kalee Junkermier scored 13 points for the Saints.

Jojo DeLong (Sr., PG, Santa Clarita, CA/Canyon HS) scored 15 points, made 4 of 8 three-point shots, and provided five assists for Willamette. Racyne Parker (Fr., G, Klamath Falls, OR/Henley HS) hit the nets for 12 points, while connecting on 5 of 6 field goals.

Carroll outrebounded the Bearcats, 36-18. Baylee Watson led the Saints with nine rebounds, while Cassidy Hashley hauled down eight boards and Johnston earned seven. Racyne Parker (Fr., G, Klamath Falls, OR/Henley HS) and Marisa Hamilton (Fr., C, Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) each grabbed four rebounds for the Bearcats.

Willamette fell behind early as Carroll built a 14-2 lead in the first 6:07 of the game. The quick start included two 3-pointers and a layup by Snelling.

The Bearcats responded with a 12-4 run to cut the margin to 18-14 with 8:45 left in the half. DeLong and Parker each tallied four points during the run. Carroll countered by scoring the next nine points for a 27-14 lead at the 4:09 mark. The Saint held a 36-23 advantage at halftime.

Carroll took a 43-25 lead with 16:16 remaining on a layup by Hashley. The Bearcats scored 13 of the next 19 points, including two 3-pointers by DeLong and one 3-pointer by Ashley Evans (Fr., PG, Canby, OR/Canby HS) to reduce the lead to 11 points at 49-38 with 11:53 on the clock.

Johnston scored on a jumper with just three second left on the shot clock during Carroll's next possession to open a 10-0 run by the Saints. Carroll led 59-38 with 8:04 to go.

The Saints shot 56.3% from the field (27 of 48) and converted 7 of 12 three-point attempts (58.3%). Carroll also hit 18 of 24 free throws. Willamette was 20 of 47 on field goals (42.6%), including 8 of 22 on three-pointers (36.4%). WU sank 9 of 11 free throws.