By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Britanny Kochenderfer (Sr., G, Klamath Falls, OR/Henley HS/Idaho State Univ.) of Willamette University earned a double-double with 17 points and 15 rebounds, while setting the school record for rebounds in a season, as the Bearcats defeated Lewis & Clark College on Saturday, Feb. 16 during Senior Night at Cone Field House. The Bearcats concluded the season with an 11-14 overall record, including 6-10 in the Northwest Conference. The Pioneers fell to 2-23 overall, 1-15 in the NWC.
Kochenderfer entered the game needing 14 rebounds to tie the school record of 270 set by Donna Kalama in 1987-88. Kochenderfer grabbed nine rebounds in the first half. She added two in the third quarter and four in the fourth quarter. She tied the record with 6:33 left in the game and hauled down another board with 3:08 to play, as she finished the year with 271 rebounds.
In addition to her double-double and school record, Kochenderfer also contributed four assists, three steals and two blocked shots. She completed her two seasons at Willamette with 677 career points, 468 career rebounds, and 57 career blocks. She previously played two seasons at Idaho State University.
"Tonight was a great way to finish the season," Willamette Head Coach Peg Swadener said. "The growth we have shown through the season has been amazing, and I am so proud of how we can together these past few weeks."
Joining Kochenderfer in double figures for scoring were Kali Vickery (Sr., G, Glide, OR/Glide HS) and Elizabeth Logsdon (Jr., F, McMinnville, OR/McMinnville HS). Vickery provided WU with 12 points, nine boards, two steals and a blocked shot. She was 6 for 8 on field goals. Logsdon tacked on 10 points, while converting 5 of 8 shots from the field. Drew Farmer (Jr., PG, Brookings, OR/Brookings-Harbor HS) scored eight points and secured seven rebounds.
Willamette honored the team's two seniors, Kochenderfer and Vickery, prior to the game. They went on to combine for 29 points and 24 rebounds.
"To have Kali play the way she did, and to have Britanny secure the all-time single season rebound record, was just icing on the cake," Swadener said. "I couldn't be happier for these two and the legacy they have left on the Bearcat program."
Sarah Hogman led Lewis & Clark with 16 points and three steals. Delsie Johnson provided 10 points and went 6 for 8 at the free throw line. Tori Eichton scored 10 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Alyx Crager earned seven points, seven rebounds, three assists and two steals.
Willamette surged out to a 9-0 lead. The run was completed on a 3-pointer by Kochenderfer with 6:01 left in the first quarter. Later in the quarter, the Bearcats owned a 13-6 advantage. WU held an 18-12 edge when the game entered the second period.
The Pioneers were unable catch the Bearcats the rest of the way, as Willamette remained in front from start to finish.
After each team added two points in the second quarter, the Bearcats went on a 9-2 run to build a 29-16 lead. Four WU players -- Kochenderfer, Logsdon, Amanda Carpenter (So., G, Beaverton, OR/Sunset HS) and Madison Ballard (Fr., G, Monroe, OR/Monroe HS) -- scored durig the run. The Bearcats led by 14 points late in the half, but Jillian Jin of Lewis & Clark cut the lead to 34-22 on a jumper with 14 seconds left.
The Bearcats owned a double-digit margin throughout the second half and gradually pulled away. WU led 44-28 on a jumper by Morgan Yamane (Fr., Moses Lake, WA/Moses Lake HS) with 2:16 left in the third quarter. A traditional 3-point play by Farmer with 15 seconds on the clock gave Willamette a 50-30 lead through 30 minutes of play.
For the game, Willamette shot 43.5% (27 of 62), while the Bearcats limited L&C to 31.5% shooting (17 of 54). WU sank 6 of 21 three-pointers (28.6%) and the Pioneers made 2 of 14 long-range shots (14.3%). The Bearcats recorded a 42-36 rebounding edge, and forced the Pioneers into 14 turnovers. Willamette lost the ball 10 times.
Big Moment of the Game for Willamette
Britanny Kochenderfer grabbed 15 rebounds during the
game, as she broke the Willamette record for rebounds
in a season. Her final rebound, secured with 3:08 left in
the game, gave her 271 career boards, one more than
Donna Kalama, who grabbed 270 rebounds in 1987-88.
Kochenderfer completed her two seasons at Willamette
with 677 career points and 468 career rebounds.
