Willamette Falls to Nationally-Ranked Whitworth, 67-51

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

SPOKANE, WASH. -- Whitworth University, ranked #17 in the D3hoops.com Women's Top 25, earned a 67-51 victory over Willamette University on Saturday, Jan. 31 at the Whitworth Fieldhouse, as the Pirates improved to 18-1 on the season. Jessica Kramer led all scorers with 18 points for Whitworth, while teammate KC McConnell finished with 17 points.

Marisa Hamilton (So./Fr., C, Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) of Willamette scored a career-high 16 points, one day after setting a personal-best with 15 points in a loss at Whitman. Hamilton was 7 for 12 from the field against the Pirates.

Jojo DeLong (Sr., PG, Santa Clarita, CA/Canyon HS) provided the Bearcats with 11 points, while Kylie Towry (So./Fr., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS) earned eight points. Katie Kalugin (Sr., G, Woodburn, OR/Woodburn HS) contributed seven points and eight rebounds.

DeLong moved into 11th place on Willamette's all-time scoring list with 804 career points. She moved past Tracy Thom, who scored 795 points from 1984-88. Traci Shepard is 10th with 941 points from 1993-97.

Whitworth improved to 9-1 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 6-13 overall, 1-9 in the NWC.

Willamette never led, but the teams were tied 6-6 after DeLong sank a 3-point basket with 15:47 left in the first half. The Bearcats stayed within striking distance of the Pirates for most of the half. Whitworth led 17-12 with 9:05 remaining and held a 24-19 lead with 4:08 to go.

The Pirates tallied the next five points on a free throw by McConnell, a jumper by Faith Emerson and a layup by Kramer for a 29-19 lead with 1:09 on the clock. Hamilton scored for Willamette, but Whitworth added four more points for a 33-21 advantage at the break.

Kramer hit 6 of 6 field goals for the Pirates in the first half to lead all players with 12 points. She finished the game 9 for 12 from the field. The Bearcats' leading scorer at halftime was Hamilton with eight points.

Whitworth earned the first basket of the second half on a layup by Lexie Zappone, but Willamette responded with a 3-pointer by Ashley Evans (Fr., PG, Canby, OR/Canby HS) and a 3-pointer by Kalugin to pull within 35-28 with 17:51 remaining. The Pirates answered with an 8-2 run for a 43-29 lead at the 15:58 mark.

The Bearcats cut the margin to 10 points twice in the next 3:29, but couldn't reduce the lead to single digits.

Willamette matched Whitworth in field goal shooting and 3-point shooting, as the Bearcats converted 44.4% from the field (20 of 45) and made 7 of 21 three-pointers (33.3%). The Pirates shot 44.6% on field goals (25 of 56), including 5 for 15 from 3-point range (33.3%).

Both teams grabbed 29 rebounds. Kalugin's eight boards led all players. Katara Belton-Sharp topped Whitworth with seven boards, while McConnell hauled down six.

Whitworth kept the Bearcats from rallying by forcing Willamette into 21 turnovers during the game, while the Pirates lost the ball just eight times. Whitworth outscored the Bearcats 21-7 in points off turnovers.

The Pirates also gained an advantage at the line, hitting 12 of 16 free throws. Willamette was 4 for 4 on free throw attempts.

A third consecutive road game awaits Willamette on Friday, Feb. 6 when the Bearcats will play at George Fox University in Newberg, Ore., at 6 p.m. (PST). The Bearcats will return home to Cone Field House to battle the University of Puget Sound at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 7.