By Robert MxKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Willamette University trailed Linfield College by 12 points with 8:23 remaining in the game before going on a 19-8 run to pull within a single point, but the Wildcats held on in the closing seconds for a 61-56 win over the Bearcats on Saturday, Jan. 18 at Ted Wilson Gymnasium. Both teams ended the game at 10-5 overall and 4-2 in the Northwest Conference.

The Wildcats were in front 44-32 after Molly Danielson completed a traditional three-point play for Linfield. Willamette started its rally with a driving layup by Sami Riggs (Fy., G, La Verne, CA/Bonita HS) with 7:58 left. After Danielson put through a layup for Linfield, Drew Farmer (Sr., PG, Brookings, OR/Brookings-Harbor HS) and Claire Bonnet (Fy., Boise, ID/Boise HS) each tacked on a layup for WU to pull the Bearcats within 46-38 at the 6:23 mark.

A bit later, Willamette scored seven consecutive points on an offensive rebound and layup by Ava Kitchin (Fy., Redmond, OR/Redmond HS), a 3-pointer from the right elbow by Bonnet, and another basket from Kitchin. The run reduced Linfield's lead to 48-45 with 4:37 to play.

Linfield extended its lead to 52-45 with 3:37 left, but the Bearcats used a 6-0 run to pull within 52-51. Farmer completed the run with back-to-back driving layups, earning the second with 1:27 on the clock. Cassidy Schutz tallied the next four points for Linfield on 4-for-4 shooting at the line, as the Wildcats took a 55-51 lead. Kassin Hopkins (Sr., G, Connell, WA/Connell HS/Bellevue College) brought WU within 55-53 on two free throws with 39 seconds remaining.

Kory Oleson returned the Wildcats to a four-point advantage with two free throws 11 seconds later. Jordyn Feinauer missed two free throws for Linfield with 19.1 seconds to go, and Hopkins sank a 3-pointer for WU with 10.8 seconds on the clock to cut the lead to 57-56. Schutz made two free throws after being fouled on the ensuing in-bounds pass, putting Linfield up 59-56. Amanda Carpenter (Jr., G, Beaverton, OR/Sunset HS) missed a 23-foot three-point attempt for Willamette with two seconds left. Schutz was fouled and scored the game's final two points.

Hopkins was WU's top scorer with 19 points. She tied for the team lead with seven rebounds, and connected on two of Willamette's four 3-point baskets. Farmer followed with 10 points and hit 5 of 7 field goals. Riggs chipped in nine points, five rebounds and three steals. Carpenter tied Hopkins with seven boards.

The Wildcats were led by Schutz with 16 points, as she went 4 for 5 on field goals and 7 for 8 at the free throw line. Danielson scored 15 points, and also provided Linfield with five rebounds and two blocked shots. Oleson accumulated 11 points and five boards. Paige LaFountian registered a game-high six assists.

Willamette never trailed in the first quarter and led by as many as six points three times. WU's first six-point lead was at 13-7 with 3:31 left in the quarter following a jumper by Kitchin. The Bearcats also led 15-9 on a jumper by Farmer at the 2:36 mark and 17-11 on a layup by Elizabeth Logsdon (Sr., F, McMinnville, OR/McMinnville HS) with 2:10 on the clock. Feinauer of Linfield scored the last points of the quarter on a jumper with 22 seconds to go to reduce WU's lead to 17-13.

In the second quarter, Schutz scored first for Linfield to cut the lead to two points, but WU held a six-point margin three times during the quarter, ending with a 25-19 edge on a layup by Farmer with 4:46 remaining. Linfield closed the half with an 11-1 run, tying the score at 25-25 with 2:40 to go and taking a 30-26 lead into the intermission. Oleson earned the final points of the half on a 3-pointer with 1:38 left.

Linfield registered the first six points of the third quarter to extend its run to 17-1 over a 9:18 span. The Wildcats completed the run with a 36-26 lead after Brooke Landis hit two free throws at the 5:28 mark. Willamette scored the next four points on a pair of free throws by Hopkins with 4:27 to play and two free throws by Logsdon with 43.5 seconds on the clock. Shasta Lofgren hit a 3-pointer for Linfield with 30 seconds left to give the Wildcats a 39-32 lead. Hopkins sank a long two-point basket for WU with nine second remaining to reduce the margin to 39-32.

Although Linfield completed its lengthy run in the first few minutes after halftime, the third quarter was mainly a showcase of great defense by both teams. Linfield outscored Willamette 9-6 during the quarter, with the teams combining to go just 4 of 32 from the field. In contrast, the fourth quarter was an offensive show, with Willamette outscoring the Wildcats, 24-22.

For the game, Willamette shot 33.3% from the field (21 of 53), including 56.3% (9 of 16) in the fourth quarter. The Bearcats were 4 of 18 on 3-pointers and hit 10 of 12 free throws (83.3%). The Wildcats shot 32.8% overall (20 of 61) and went 3 of 14 from 3-point range. Linfield made 18 of 21 free throws (85.7%), including 12 of 15 in the fourth quarter.

The Bearcats will take on the NWC-leading Pacific University Boxers on Friday, Jan. 24 in Forest Grove, Oregon. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m. (PST). Pacific is 6-0 in the NWC and 12-3 on the season.