Willamette Shuts Down Lake Forest for 43-38 Win in Hawaii

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

HONOLULU, HAWAII -- Katie Kalugin (Sr., G, Woodburn, OR/Woodburn HS) earned a double-double by scoring 10 points and securing 11 rebounds, as she led Willamette University to a 43-38 victory over Lake Forest College (Illinois) on Saturday, Dec. 20 at the Hoop N Surf Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii. The game was played at McKinley High School.

Jojo DeLong (Sr., PG, Santa Clarita, CA/Canyon HS) of Willamette tacked on nine points to go with four rebounds and four assists. Marisa Hamilton (Fr., C, Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) contributed six points, five boards and two steals.

Racyne Parker (Fr., G, Klamath Falls, OR/Henley HS) scored six points for the Bearcats. Julia Brand (Sr., F, Kaneohe, HI/Punahou School) hauled down five rebounds.

The Bearcats improved their record to 5-4 on the season, while Lake Forest fell to 3-6. Willamette was playing its second game in as many days, while Lake Forest was returning to action for the first time since winning consecutive games on Dec. 6 and Dec. 9.

Willamette limited Lake Forest to 27.3% field goal shooting (15 of 55). The Foresters connected on only 1 of 8 three-point shots.

Kelsey Schmitt of Lake Forest just missed a double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds. Brie Majkowski, K.C. Stralka and Brittany Avonts each scored six points for the Foresters.

Stralka scored the game's first basket with 19:16 left in the opening half, but LFC did not score again for more than 13 minutes. The Foresters missed 15 shots in a row.

Willamette tallied 16 unanswered points while the Foresters struggled, as the Bearcats built a 16-2 lead with 6:03 remaining in the half. Kalugin tallied WU's first six points, while DeLong and Kylie Towry (Fr., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS) each hit a 3-pointer during the run.

Stralka ended Lake Forest's 13:34 of scoreless action with a layup at the 5:42 mark. The basket started an 11-0 run by the Foresters, who cut the lead to 16-13 with 1:34 left in the half. Michelle Ricolcol scored five of the points, including a layup and a foul shot to complete the run.

DeLong sank a 3-pointer for the Bearcats on an assist from Brand with 1:09 on the clock. Stralka earned the final points of the half for LFC on a layup with 42 seconds left, leaving Willamette with a 19-15 advantage.

Majkowski hit a jumper for the first basket of the second half, as the Foresters pulled within two points. Lake Forest also moved within two points at 21-19 after Schmitt made two free throws with 17:08 remaining.

WU answered with an 8-1 run that featured two layups by Kalugin and two jump shots by Hamilton. The Bearcats owned a 29-21 lead with 11:34 left.

Claire Finnn achieve the next basket for Lake Forest, but Parker sank two free throws and added a jumper on consecutive possessions for Willamette to increase the Bearcats' margin to 33-23 with 10:11 on the clock.

Just over five minutes later, DeLong put through a 3-point shot with 5:05 to go, providing WU with a 40-32 edge. The Foresters earned the next six points. When Majkowski sank two free throws at the 3:35 mark, Lake Forest pulled within 40-38.

The Foresters did not score again. Willamette increased its lead to 42-38 with 1:33 left on two free throws by Alex Wert (So., F, Spokane, WA/St. George's HS), who was fouled while shooting.

After a turnover by Lake Forest, the Bearcats missed a chance to extend the lead, when Kalugin's shot was rebounded by Majkowksi with 1:05 on the clock. Jenna Rice missed a jumper for the Foresters with 55 seconds to go.

Schmitt grabbed the rebound for LFC, but most of the shot clock ran off before Stralka missed a layup with 28 seconds remaining.

Lake Forest had to commit three fouls -- with 26, 17 and 12 seconds left -- to get Willamette into the bonus. Wert hit the front end of a 1-and-1 after the third foul, increasing WU's lead to 43-38. The Foresters missed two more shots in the closing seconds.

Willamette shot just 30.7% for the game (16 of 52), finished 4 for 23 on 3-pointers (17.4%) and made 7 of 14 free throws, but the Bearcats' defense kept Lake Forest in check for significant stretches as WU completed a sweep of back-to-back games.

The Foresters converted 7 of 9 free throws (77.8%), including 6 of 8 in the second half, but it wasn't enough for LFC. Willamette outrebounded Lake Forest, 42-39.

Up next for Willamette is the start of Northwest Conference action on Friday, Jan. 2, when the Bearcats will host Whitworth University. Game time at Cone Field House is scheduled for 6 p.m. (PST). Willamette will also play at home on Saturday, Jan. 3 against Whitman College at 4 p.m. (PST).