Pacific Moves Past Bearcats, 60-39, behind 20 Points by Curl

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

FOREST GROVE, ORE. -- Pacific University received a game-high 20 points from Sarah Curl and Nani Ostrom added 13 points, as the Boxers defeated Willamette University, 60-39, in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game on Friday, Jan. 23 at the Stoller Center.

Pacific improved to 7-10 on the season, including 3-5 in the NWC. Willamette dropped to 5-11 overall, 0-7 in the NWC.

Curl connected on 9 of 18 field goals for the Boxers. Ostrom was 5 for 11 from the field and led Pacific with three 3-point baskets. Willamette was led by Julia Brand (Sr., F, Kaneohe, HI/Punahou School), who scored nine points and grabbed seven rebounds.

Katie Kalugin (Sr., G, Woodburn, OR/Woodburn HS) of Willamette tallied eight points and provided seven rebounds. Kylie Towry (So./Fr., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS) hauled down a team-high nine rebounds.

The Boxers bolted out to a 6-0 lead in the first three minutes. Jojo DeLong (Sr., PG, Santa Clarita, CA/Canyon HS) hit a 3-pointer for Willamette and Ashley Evans (Fr., PG, Canby, OR/Canby HS) added a layup as WU pulled within 6-5 with 15:29 left in the half.

Pacific countered with a 13-4 run for a 19-9 lead at the 9:40 mark. Five Boxers score during the run. Curl provided four of the points, giving her eight points in just over 10 minutes.

Layups by Marisa Hamilton (So./Fr., Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) andKatie Kalugin (Sr., G, Woodburn, OR/Woodburn HS) allowed the Bearcats to cut the margin to six points, 19-13, with 6:44 on the clock. DeLong assisted on Hamilton's basket, while Evans assisted on the basket by Kalugin.

The Bearcats were within 23-15 after a layup by Kelsey Walker (Fr., Westerville, OH/Westerville North HS) with 4:20 remaining. Pacific followed with an 11-3 offensive surge for a 34-18 advantage.

Ostrom put in a trio of 3-pointers for the Boxers during the run. Curl completed the outburst with a long two-pointer at the 59-second mark.

Brand of Willamette sank 1 of 2 free throws with 18 seconds to go, leaving Pacific with a 34-19 edge at the break. The Boxers had two players in double figures at halftime, as Curl scored 12 points and Ostrom added 11.

Neither team scored in the first two minutes of the second half, but Kalugin earned the first basket for Willamette with 17:45 on the clock. Pacific scored the next seven points for a 41-21 lead, and the Boxers were in front 44-26 after a 3-pointer by Curl with 12:44 remaining.

Later, Willamette went on a 9-2 run to get within 47-37 with 6:32 left. The Bearcats ended the run with six consecutive points on a 17-foot jumper by Brand, a 3-pointer by Whitney Anderson (Fr., G, Willamina, OR/Willamina HS).

Pacific put through 10 consecutive points to stop Willamette's rally. The next basket for WU was a layup by Brand with 2:35 remaining.

The Boxers outrebounded the Bearcats, 43-39, led by nine boards from Olivia Cook and eight from Abby Jones. Pacific committed just five turnovers and forced WU into 12 turnovers.

For the game, Pacific shot 37.7% on field goals (26 of 69) and made 6 of 15 three-pointers (40.0%). Willamette hit 28.3% of its field goal attempts (17 of 60), while converting 4 of 19 from 3-point range (21.1%). The teams combined for just nine free throw attempts, with Pacific going 2 for 4 and WU finishing 1 for 5.

The Bearcats will play again on Saturday, Jan. 24, when Willamette hosts nearby rival Linfield College. Game time at Gordie James Court inside Cone Field House is set for 4 p.m. (PST).