Bearcats pursue George Fox

SALEM, Ore. — Willamette University (7-11, 4-5 NWC) fell to George Fox University (10-8, 6-3 NWC), 65-41, at Cone Field House on Tuesday. Despite the Bearcats' 9 steals and 5 blocks, George Fox dominated the boards with a 47-28 rebounding advantage. The Bearcats struggled offensively, shooting 28.6% from the field, including 3 of 21 from beyond the arc.

It was a slow start for the home team, as the Bearcats struggled to find rhythm. Early turnovers and missed shots allowed George Fox to establish an initial lead. Riley Walden's jumper at 6:21 put Willamette on the board, but they faced difficulty closing the gap as George Fox maintained control in the paint. Despite a late surge, including a three-pointer by Kaitlin Imai with 29 seconds remaining, the Bearcats concluded the quarter trailing. The period ended with George Fox leading 17–10.

The second quarter began with George Fox extending their lead, however the Bearcats responded by converting both free throws by Mattie Thompson shortly after. Despite a defensive effort that included two blocks, Willamette struggled to capitalize on offensive opportunities, making only three field goals in the period. George Fox maintained their momentum with consistent scoring, including a layup by Hanne Hopkins that widened their margin further. The Bearcats remained persistent, with Walden and Peyton Gardner each contributing crucial points in the paint.

In the third quarter, a key defensive play by Gardner, who intercepted a pass and scored on a fastbreak layup, narrowed the gap early. Walden contributed with a 3-pointer off an assist from Gardner, maintaining offensive pressure. Addie Hiler also added a 3-pointer, keeping Willamette's scoring within reach. Despite these efforts, George Fox matched the scoring output, and the quarter ended with both teams scoring 12 points each. The score stood at 52–31 in favor of George Fox at the close of the quarter.

The fourth quarter began with a defensive highlight from Emma Floyd, who blocked a layup attempt by Sophie Carbajal of George Fox. Despite the early defensive stops, the Bearcats faced a scoring challenge, as they struggled with shooting consistency, going 4 for 17 from the field. Imai contributed with a jumper, but George Fox maintained their lead.

The Bearcats' offense showed brief momentum with Daisy Boling-Schmidt and Gardner scoring from the paint, while the defense added three steals and three blocks. However, George Fox capitalized on their opportunities, scoring 10 points in the paint and converting three free throws. The quarter closed with Karsyn Ripplinger making two free throws, but the game ended with Willamette trailing 65-41.

Looking ahead, the Bearcats will host Whitman on Friday, Jan. 30. The game will tip off at 5:30 p.m. in Salem, Oregon.