Imai Earns 13 Points, including a trio of 3-Pointers, against Chapman

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- Kaitlin Imai (So., G, Santa Cruz, CA/Scotts Valley HS) of Willamette University scored a team-high 13 points and hit three 3-point baskets, but Chapman University (Calif.) defeated the Bearcats 71-55 during the Ken Schumann Classic on Saturday, Nov. 18 at the Stoller Center on the Pacific University campus. Also reaching double figures for WU was Carolyn Ho (Sr., G, Parker, CO/Ponderosa HS), who tallied 11 points for the Bearcats.

Elyse Waldal (Jr., Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS/Linfield University) scored nine points to go with six rebounds. Ava Kitchin (Sr., P, Redmond, OR/Redmond HS) provided eight points and six boards.

Danielle Morgan (Sr., F, Lompoc, CA/Lompoc HS/California Lutheran Univ.) hauled down a game-high 10 rebounds for the Bearcats, as Willamette achieved a 35-23 rebounding margin. WU's top rebounders so far this season are Kitchin with 7.5 boards per game, Morgan with an average of 6.3 and Waldal with an average of 5.3.

Chapman advanced its record to 2-1, while Willamette moved to 1-3. The Panthers led 24-14 at the end of the first quarter and held a 40-30 edge at halftime.

Layla Woods and Maile Nakaji each scored 14 points to lead the Panthers. Makena Nitao added 11 points and Zoe Zurasky scored 10 points. Trinity Barretto registered five assists, while Zurasky and Nitao each earned three steals.

The Panthers gained an edge in field goal shooting and 3-point shooting to offset their deficit on the boards. Chapman shot 48.3% overall (28 of 58) and connected on 38.9% of their 3-pointers (7 of 18). Willamette finished at 37.3% from the field (19 of 51) and made 7 of 26 shots (26.9%) from 3-point range. Both teams shot well at the free throw line, with Willamette sinking an exceptional 83.3% (10 of 12), while the Panthers hit 8 of 11 attempts (72.7%).

Chapman charged out to an 11-3 lead following a jumper by Aidan Sherfey and the Panthers held a 16-5 advantage after Nakaji put through a 3-point shot with 5:10 left in the opening quarter. The Bearcats reduced the margin to eight points at 20-12 on a 3-pointer by Peyton Gardner (So., G, Bend, OR/Bend HS) at the 2:59 mark before the Panthers tallied four of the quarter's final six points.

The teams exchanged baskets for most of the second quarter. With 3:39 left in the half, Zurasky sank a 3-pointer to give the Panthers a 35-23 lead. Willamette countered with a 5-0 run on a layup by Emma Floyd (So., F, Camano Island, WA/Stanwood HS) and a 3-point basket by Waldal with 2:48 to go, cutting the margin to 35-28. Chapman ended the half with a 5-2 run.

At the start of the second half, neither team scored for nearly two minutes. Chapman scored on a jump shot by Barretto at the 8:08 mark to start a 9-0 run. The string of points included a layup and a 3-pointer from Shanna Brown and a jump shot by Nitao. The Panthers were in front 49-30 with 5:19 to play in the third quarter. The Bearcats used an 11-5 surge in the fourth quarter to pull within 66-52 with 2:54 on the clock, but couldn't get closer. Ho earned a traditional three-point play and added a 3-point shot to start the run, while Imai supplied the final five points with a layup and a 3-pointer.

The Bearcats will return to action on Friday, Nov. 24 against Concordia University Wisconsin at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Game time is set for 3 p.m. MST/2 p.m. PST.