Bearcats crush Banana Slugs

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. — Willamette defeated the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs 72-61 at West Field House, pulling away in the final quarter. The Bearcats led by as many as 14 points, thanks to a strong shooting performance from beyond the arc, converting 10 of 22 three-point attempts. Willamette's ability to capitalize on turnovers and maintain a slim rebounding edge secured the victory.

Willamette began the first quarter assertively, capitalizing on turnovers to establish an early lead. Daisy Boling-Schmidt's steal set up Riley Walden for a layup, marking the first points of the game. The Bearcats continued to apply pressure, taking advantage of UC Santa Cruz's turnovers and converting them into points, including a 3-pointer from Emma Floyd, assisted by Walden, to narrow the gap.

The quarter's momentum shifted with Gabbie Wilson's 3-pointer at 1:53, assisted by Kaitlin Imai, extending Willamette's lead. A late fast-break layup by Peyton Gardner at 0:06, following a defensive stop, helped secure a 20–13 advantage for the Bearcats by the end of the first quarter.

Willamette initiated the second quarter with a strategic play, as Gardner's layup extended the lead. The visitors maintained momentum with a key three-pointer from Imai, set up by Gardner's assist, widening the gap to 25–17.

Midway through the quarter, Floyd's three-pointer, assisted by Walden, kept Willamette ahead. Despite efforts from UC Santa Cruz, the Bearcats closed the quarter strong with Mattie Thompson and Gardner contributing to a 14-point frame, resulting in a 34–25 lead at halftime.

The third quarter began with Floyd hitting a 3-pointer, assisted by Imai, to extend Willamette's lead. Addie Hiler added a layup shortly after, benefiting from a fast break, and Gardner contributed with a free throw, further increasing the advantage. Despite a pushback from UC Santa Cruz, including a layup and 3-pointer by their players, Willamette maintained control.

Imai's efforts included a critical block and defensive rebound, while Wilson provided an assist to Imai for another 3-pointer. As the quarter progressed, the Bearcats sustained their lead with contributions from Walden at the free-throw line and a layup by Wilson. The quarter concluded with Willamette ahead 53-46, showcasing a balanced offense and maintaining a competitive margin heading into the final quarter.

Willamette initiated the fourth quarter with momentum, as Floyd's 3-pointer, assisted by Imai, set the tone early. The team extended their lead with a 3-pointer by Wilson, pushing the score to 59-48. The Bearcats' defense remained strong, evidenced by Imai's key steal and subsequent layup, maintaining their advantage.

Throughout the quarter, Willamette consistently outpaced UC Santa Cruz, with Imai contributing significantly by scoring multiple baskets, including a layup at 6:44. Despite UC Santa Cruz's attempts to close the gap, including Claire Galbo's layup, the Bearcats' lead remained steady.

In the closing minutes, Willamette secured the win with effective free-throw shooting, highlighted by Wilson's and Imai's successful attempts. The quarter concluded with Willamette outscoring UC Santa Cruz 19-15, leading to a final score of 72-61.

In their next game, the Bearcats will travel to Newberg, Oregon, to face George Fox. The matchup is set for Friday, Dec. 5 at 5 p.m.