By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SANTA CRUZ, Calif. -- Willamette University played superb defense against California State University Maritime Academy on Friday, Nov. 24, limiting the Keelhaulers to just 23.1% shooting for the game and only 11 points in the final three quarters, as the Bearcats grabbed a 57-24 win in the first round of the UC Santa Cruz Mission Inn Thanksgiving Classic. The game was played at Kaiser Permanente Arena, the home court of the Santa Cruz Warriors, the minor league team of the Golden State Warriors.
The Bearcats, who compete in NCAA Division III, evened their record at 2-2. CSU Maritime, which competes in the NAIA, fell to 5-6 on the season.
After shooting 40.0% in the first quarter (6 of 15), Cal State Maritime slipped to 30.0% in the second quarter (3 of 10), 15.4% in the third quarter (2 of 13) and 0.0% from the field in the fourth quarter (0 of 8). Willamette outscored the Keelhaulers 42-11 in the final three periods, including 12-1 in the fourth quarter.
"We came into this game with a heavy focus on our defense and rebounding, and I'm very pleased with our effort in both those areas this afternoon," said Willamette Head Coach Peg Swadener. "Being able to improve those areas will help us tremendously on those days when we don't shoot as well. It's fun to see the hard work in practice show on the floor."
Kylie Towry (Sr., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS) of Willamette led all scorers with 14 points, including four 3-point baskets. She also contributed three rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Mary Eckenrode (Sr., G, Higley, AZ/Highland HS) and Drew Farmer (So., PG, Brookings, OR/Brookings-Harbor HS) each scored 11 points for the Bearcats. Elizabeth Logsdon (So., F, McMinnville, OR/McMinnville HS) and Jada Leonard (Fr., G, Kent, WA/Kentlake HS) each hauled down a game-high nine rebounds, helping Willamette finish with a 50-32 rebounding margin.
Towry, who passed the 1,000-point mark in scoring against Northwest Christian University on Tuesday (Nov. 21), increased her career total to 1,017 points on Friday. Her first basket against Cal State Maritime moved her in front of Tracy Sanguras (1989-93) for eighth place all-time at WU. Sanguras scored 1,004 points for the Bearcats.
Lillian Dawkins scored nine points to top CSU Maritime. She was 4 for 8 from the field and 1 for 3 on 3-point shots. Her 3-pointer was the only long-range basket by the Keelhaulers during the game. Samantha James and Alisa Spearman earned six points apiece for Maritime, while Katherine Freitas grabbed a team-high six boards.
The game was close throughout the first quarter, with three ties and two lead changes. Willamette broke a 2-2 tie on a 3-pointer by Towry with 7:34 on the clock. CSU Maritime took a 6-5 lead on a jumper by Spearman at the 5:11 mark, but Towry put Willamette up 8-6 by hitting a 3-pointer -- assisted by Farmer -- just 11 seconds later.
Dawkins sank a 3-point shot with 3:16 left in the quarter for an 11-11 tie. Willamette earned the next four points on two free throws from Farmer and a layup by Whitney Anderson (Sr., G, Willamina, OR/Willamina HS). Dawkins connected on a jumper for the Keelhaulers with 1:40 to go, leaving Willamette with a 15-13 lead at the end of the quarter.
A free throw by Logsdon gave WU a 16-13 advantage early in the second quarter. Dawkins put through a jump shot with 9:09 remaining in the half to pull CSU Maritime within a single points at 16-15.
Willamette countered with a 14-2 run for a 30-17 lead with 3:29 left before halftime. The run started with a 3-pointer by Towry, and also inlcuded seven points by Eckenrode, plus four points by Britanny Kochenderfer (Jr., G, Klamath Falls, OR/Henley HS/Idaho State Univ.). The Bearcats owned a 32-19 margin at the intermission.
The third quarter began with a 4-0 run by the Keelhaulers to get within nine points at 32-23 with 7:29 on the clock. Willamette shut out Cal State Maritime over the rest of the quarter, allowing the Bearcats to go on a 13-0 run for a 45-23 lead. Five Bearcats scored during the quarter, with Farmer providing five points on a 3-point shot and a pair of free throws.
CSU Maritime struggled to find any offensive success in the final quarter. Willamette's scoring streak, which began in the third quarter, continued for an additional eight points and ended at 21 points overall. The Bearcats held a 53-23 lead with 2:17 to go. The Keelhaulers scored their only point of the fourth quarter when Freitas sank the second of two free throws with 2:01 left.
Willamette shot just 31.3% for the game (20 of 64), but converted 7 of 23 three-point attempts (30.4%) and made 10 of 13 free throws (76.9%). CSU Maritime finished 11 of 46 from the field, including 1 of 11 on 3-pointers (9.1%). Martime was 1 for 4 at the line.
The Bearcats will take on University of California, Santa Cruz in the second round of the Mission Inn Thanksgiving Classic on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 1 p.m. (PST).
