Bearcats Battle L&C, but Fall to Pioneers, 65-58, in Women's Basketball

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

PORTLAND, ORE. -- After trailing by 10 points at halftime, the Willamette University women's basketball team kept battling back within five points during the second half, and got as close as three points with 7:08 remaining, but couldn't catch Lewis & Clark College, as the Pioneers won 65-58 on Tuesday, Jan. 10.

Lewis & Clark, which owned a 34-24 lead at the half, improved to 6-8 on the season, 3-2 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette, which outscored the Pioneers 34-31 over the final 20 minutes, moved to 5-9 overall, 0-5 in the NWC.

The Pioneers built an 11-0 lead, bolstered by an early 11-2 rebounding edge that included five offensive boards which led to four of the points. Ayisat Afolabi opened the scoring with a layup, while Lauren Wood recorded the next three baskets. Sarah Anderson completed the run with a 3-pointer at the 15:42 mark. L&C never relinquished the lead.

Willamette trailed 20-10 after Kelsey Walker (Fr., G, Westerville, OH/Westerville HS) sank a 3-pointer with 7:15 left in the opening half. The Pioneers earned the next five points on a 3-pointer by Izzy Campbell and a layup by Kaitlin Mathewson for a 25-10 advantage with 6:24 on the clock.

The Bearcats put together a 14-7 run that included 3-pointers by Kylie Towry (Fr., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS) and Jojo DeLong (Sr., PG, Santa Clarita, CA/Canyon HS) to reduce the deficit to 32-24 with six seconds remaining in the half. Cianna Ochoco hit a jump shot for the Pioneers as time expired.

L&C registered the first basket of the second half on a jumper by Wood, before Willamette scored nine of the next 11 points to pull within 38-33 -- on a jumper by DeLong with 17:46 to go. Wood responded with four consecutive points on a layup at the 15:45 mark and one free throw on two attempts with 14:51 left.

The teams then exchanged points over the next five minutes, as L&C's lead shifted between six and eight.

Willamette cut the margin to five points, 47-42, on a 3-point basket by Walker with 8:46 remaining, and moved within three points when Marisa Hamilton (Fr., Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) added a jumper with 7:08 left. Anderson ended the Bearcats' momentum with a 3-pointer for the Pioneers 26 seconds later.

Anderson's basket started a 7-0 run for the Pioneers, who led 54-44 at the 5:20 mark. The Bearcats continued to battle, and got within five points five times in the closing minutes, before a free throw by Julia Brand (Sr., F, Kaneohe, HI/Punahou School) reduced the lead to 62-58 with 41 seconds to go.

L&C added a point on 1 of 2 free throws by Anderson two seconds later, but DeLong missed a jumper with 31 seconds on the clock and Mathewson rebounded for the Pioneers. Mathewson was fouled and missed both free throws, but Wood rebounded the second miss. Wood sealed the win by hitting two free throws with 25 seconds left.

Wood led all players with 23 points and 11 rebounds. She was 9 for 11 from the field and 5 for 10 at the free throw line. Anderson provided L&C with 10 points, while Afolabi supplied six points and 10 boards. The Pioneers outrebounded Willamette, 45-29.

DeLong paced the Bearcats with 12 points and led the team with five assists. Brand added 11 points and four rebounds for Willamette, while Walker and Hamilton each tallied eight points.

The Pioneers shot 49.0% from the field (25 of 51) and made 5 of 13 three-pointers (38.5%). L&C was 10 for 19 at the free throw line (52.6%).

Willamette was 22 of 57 on field goals (38.6%), including 13 of 28 (46.4%) in the second half. WU made 7 of 19 three-point shots (36.8%) and went 7 for 11 on free throws (63.6%).

The Bearcats will be on the road again on Saturday, Jan. 17, when they are scheduled to play at Pacific Lutheran University. Game time in Parkland, Wash., is set for 4 p.m. (PST).