Imai Earns 12 Points, Collins Grabs 9 Boards, but Bearcats Fall to Wolves, 57-41

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communication

SALEM, Ore. -- Kaitlin Imai (So., G, Santa Cruz, CA/Scotts Valley HS) scored 12 points for Willamette University and teammate Ashley Collins (Sr., P, Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills HS) provided seven points and hauled down nine rebounds, but Western Oregon University built a 28-14 halftime lead and defeated the Bearcats, 57-41, on Saturday, Dec. 30 at Cone Field House. 

Western Oregon, which competes in NCAA Division II and the Great Northwest Athletic Conference (GNAC), improved its record to 7-5. Willamette, which is a member of NCAA Division III and the Northwest Conference (NWC), ended the game at 5-6 on the season. 

In addition to leading the Bearcats with 12 points, Imai supplied Willamette with five assists and earned two steals. She was 6 for 6 at the free throw line, helping Willamette finish 11 for 12 on free throws. Collins was 3 for 6 on field goals and added a free throw for her seven points. Her nine boards led WU and she also provided one assist and one steal. Elyse Waldal (Jr., F, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Park HS/Linfield University) finished with seven points and four rebounds.

Kiylynn Dawkins of Western Oregon was one of three Wolves who contributed 14 points. Dawkins added 12 rebounds, one assist, one steal, and one blocked shot. Cali McClave produced 14 points, six boards, four assists, and two steals. Bella Pedrojetti tacked on 14 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Anna McClave tied Dawkins with a game-high 11 boards.

The Wolves opened the game with a 9-0 run, including a 3-pointer and a jumper by Pedrojetti. Jasmine Shigeno (Sr., G, Brush Prairie, WA/Hockinson HS) ended the run by hitting a 3-point shot for Willamette with 6:41 remaining in the first quarter. Later, Collins scored on a rebound and layup with 13 seconds left to cut the margin to 13-8 as the game entered the second quarter.

Pedrojetti gave the Wolves a 17-8 lead by sinking a jumper with 7:06 to go in the first half. Megan River (Sr., G, Tumwater, WA/A.G. West Black Hills HS) of Willamette scored next on a jumper assisted by Imai. A 9-0 run by WOU extended the Wolves' lead to 26-10 before Ava Kitchin (Sr., Post, Redmond, OR/Redmond HS) hit two free throws at the 2:34 mark. 

WOU earned the first four points of the third quarter, but the Bearcats answered with four points of their own on two free throws by Imai and a jumper by Collins to reduce the lead to 32-18 with 7:00 on the clock. The Bearcats moved within 12 points at 36-24 on a jump shot by Danielle Morgan (Sr., G, Lompoc, CA/Lompoc HS/California Lutheran Univ.) with 3:51 left. The Wolves ended the quarter with a 9-6 run to claim a 45-30 lead.

A layup by Peyton Gardner (So., G, Bend, OR/Bend HS) with 2:58 to play and a layup by Waldal with 2:30 remaining pulled the Bearcats within 50-39. Cali McClave answered with a 3-pointer for WOU with 2:07 on the clock.

Western Oregon outscored Willamette by a slim 29-27 margin in the second half. The Wolves shot 39.0% for the game (23 of 59) and earned a 44-27 rebounding margin. The Bearcats shot 28.6% (14 of 49) from the field.

Willamette will host Northwest Conference rival Linfield University on Friday, Jan. 5. Game time at Cone Field House is set for 6 p.m. PST.