Bearcats Keep Pace with Loggers in First Half, but Puget Sound Pulls Away

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

TACOMA, WASH. -- Willamette University stayed close to nationally ranked University of Puget Sound in the first half on Friday, Jan. 9, with the Loggers holding a slim 30-27 lead at the break. Puget Sound, ranked #25 in the D3hoops.com Top 25, pulled away in the second half for a 68-43 victory in Northwest Conference women's basketball action.

With the win, UPS advanced its record to 10-1 on the season, including 1-1 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 5-7 overall, 0-3 in the NWC. The Bearcats' three conference opponents have a combined overall record of 30-6.

Katy Ainslie of Puget Sound scored 15 points and hauled down a game-high 11 rebounds. She was 7 of 13 from the field. Amanda Forshay also scored 15 points for the Loggers. Allie Wyszynski tacked on 12 points, while Emily Sheldon scored 10 points and earned five assists.

The Bearcats were led by Katie Kalugin (Sr., G, Woodburn, OR/Woodburn HS), who scored 11 points on 4 of 8 field goals. She went 3 for 3 at the free throw line.

Kylie Towry (Fr., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS) added nine points for Willamette on a trio of 3-point baskets. Marisa Hamilton (Fr., Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) contributed eight points and a game-high three steals. Towry led Willamette on the glass with six rebounds.

Puget Sound scored the game's first four points on layups by Forshay and Ainslie, but the Bearcats rallied to take an 11-10 lead on a 3-pointer by Towry with 14:48 left in the opening half. A bit later, Towry gave Willamette a 14-13 lead with another 3-point basket.

The Loggers countered with a 7-0 run, with six of the points scored by Wyszynski. Her third basket competed the run with UPS leading 20-14 at the 9:05 mark.

Willamette battled back by scoring seven of the next nine points to cut the margin to 22-21 with 7:06 remaining in the half. Ashley Evans (Fr., Canby, OR/Canby HS) provided the final points of the run with a 3-point shot.

Erin Stumbaugh made a layup for UPS, but Hamilton responded with a layup and a jumper for the Bearcats, who took a 25-24 lead with 4:52 on the clock. Puget Sound regained the lead on a jumper by Ainslie with 3:05 left to start a 6-2 run to close the half. Emily Sheldon hit a jumper with four seconds left to give UPS a three-point halftime lead.

The first basket of the second half went to Kalugin, but the Loggers tallied nine of the next 11 points to take a 39-31 advantage at the 15:28 mark. Jojo DeLong (Sr., PG, Santa Clarita, CA/Canyon HS) of Willamette reduced the lead to six points with a pair of free throws with 40 seconds later.

Puget Sound took control by scoring seven consecutive points to open a 17-3 run that gave the Loggers a 56-36 lead with 6:03 to go. Willamette's Savanna Steele (So., PG, West Richland, WA/Hanford HS) sank a 3-pointer with 5:47 on the clock, but Puget Sound prevented a rally.

The Loggers shot 47.4% from the field (27 of 57) and made 4 of 16 three-pointers. UPS was 10 for 13 at the free throw line, including 9 of 10 in the second half.

Willamette shot 33.3% in the first half (10 of 30), but slipped to 21.4% in the second half (6 of 28). The Bearcats were 6 of 23 from 3-point range and made 5 of 5 free throws.

Puget Sound, led by Ainslie's 11 boards, achieved a 46-29 rebounding margin. Willamette committed just 10 turnovers, while UPS lost the ball 14 times.

The Bearcats will play at home on Saturday (Jan. 10) against George Fox University. Game time at Cone Field House is set for 4 p.m. (PST). George Fox is ranked #10 in the D3hoops.com Top 25 and is #11 in the USA Today Coaches Poll.