Concordia Scores at Buzzer to Defeat Bearcats, 62-60

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Jordyn Peacock of Concordia University (Ore.) hit a long two-point jumper from the right elbow as time expired to send the Cavaliers to a 62-60 victory over Willamette University at Cone Field House on Wednesday, Nov. 26. Concordia remained undefeated at 4-0. Willamette fell to 3-3 on the season.

The Bearcats overcame a 53-46 deficit to tie the game at 60-60 on a layup by Jojo DeLong (Sr., PG, Santa Clarita, CA/Canyon HS) with 1:17 left. Neither team scored again until the last-second shot by Peacock.

For Willamette, Katie Kalugin (Sr., G, Woodburn, OR/Woodburn HS) achieved her second double-double in as many games with 13 points and 11 rebounds. DeLong contributed 17 points, seven assists and five rebounds, while playing 39 of 40 minutes. Kylie Towry (Fr., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS) chipped in nine points and four assists.

Kalugin also recorded a double-double in Willamette's 64-59 win over Northwest Christian on Tuesday, Nov. 25. In that game, she achieved 15 points and 11 boards.

In Wednesday's game, Briannah Smith of Concordia scored a game-high 19 points and grabbed nine rebounds. Peacock finished with 15 points, a game-high 13 rebounds and three blocked shots. The Cavaliers held a 53-33 rebounding margin.

Concordia led 30-23 at halftime and used an 8-2 run to increase its lead to 38-25 with 16:31 left. The Cavaliers were unable to pull away, as Willamette countered with an 11-2 offensive surge that reduced the deficit to 40-36 at the 13:00 mark.

Willamette's run started with 3-pointers by DeLong and Towry. The trifectas pulled WU within 38-31. Kalugin added two free throws, and Lexi Campbell converted two charity shots for CU, before Kelsey Walker (Fr., G, Westerville, OH/Westerville North HS) hit another 3-pointer for WU to complete the run.

The Cavaliers claimed a 44-36 advantage with 12:18 remaining on a layup by Smith. Willamette scored 10 of the next 14 points, including a 3-pointer by Whitney Anderson (Fr., G, Willamina, OR/Willamina HS) and a 3-pointer by DeLong, to reduce Concordia's lead to 48-46 with 8:49 to go.

Peacock tacked on a 3-pointer with 8:23 on the clock and put in a layup with 6:12 left, giving the Cavaliers a 53-46 edge.

The Bearcats scored five unanswered points to cut the margin to 53-51 on a layup and a foul shot by Kalugin with 5:27 remaining. WU trailed by just a single point, 55-54, after Towry connected on a 3-pointer at the 4:06 mark. Concordia extended its lead to 60-54 with 2:28 to be played following a layup by Smith and a 3-pointer by Campbell.

Willamette then scored six consecutive points, beginning with a jumper by Kalugin. Brand hit both ends of a 1-and-1 free throw opportunity with 1:44 to go, and DeLong provided the game-tying layup on WU's next possession.

DeLong was fouled on the play by Caitlyn McCutcheon, but was unable to convert the three-point play. Kalugin grabbed the rebound and DeLong missed a 3-pointer as the game entered the final minute. The Cavaliers turned the ball over with 50 seconds left, but Towry missed a 3-pointer at the 27-second mark.

Smith missed on a jumper for Concordia with six seconds remaining. The ball went out of bounds off Willamette. On the in-bounds play, McCutcheon found Peacock for the winning shot.

Willamette led for most of the opening 10 minutes of the game, including a 14-8 advantage with 12:41 on the clock. The Cavaliers moved in front 18-16 on a jumper by Smith with 8:45 left in the half and held a 24-16 lead with 7:10 remaining. WU pulled within 24-21 on a jumper by DeLong with 4:47 left, but Concordia ended the half with a 6-2 run.

The Cavaliers shot 36.4% for the game (28 of 77), but made just 3 of 20 three-pointers (15.0%). Willamette connected on 38.6% of its field goals (22 of 57), including 42.9% in the second half (12 of 28). The Bearcats were 9 for 29 from 3-point range (31.0%).

A total of just 18 fouls were called. The Cavaliers went 3 for 4 at the free throw line, and Willamette was 7 for 8. Both teams committed 12 turnovers.

After playing four games in six days and six games in 12 days, the Bearcats are off until Thursday, Dec. 4, when they will host Montana State University-Northern. Game time at Cone Field House is scheduled for 7 p.m. (PST).