By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
HELENA, Mont. -- Carolyn Ho (Jr., G, Parker, CO/Ponderosa HS) provided Willamette University with a career-high 23 points against Montana State University-Northern on Sunday, Nov. 20, as the Bearcats defeated the Skylights, 71-58, at Carroll College (Mont.). The Bearcats held a 35-29 lead at halftime and owned a 55-41 margin entering the fourth quarter.
Willamette remained undefeated at 3-0. Montana State-Northern fell to 3-2. Willamette competes in NCAA Division III and the Northwest Conference. MSUN is a member of the NAIA and the Cascade Collegiate Conference.
Ho sank 8 of 14 shots from the field, including 6 for 10 from 3-point range, on her way to the 23-point effort. She also earned five assists, three steals, and two rebounds. Her previous high score was 20 points against Pacific Lutheran University at Cone Field House on Feb. 4, 2022 . In that game, she connected on 8 of 9 field goals, including 2 of 3 shots from 3-point range.
Megan River (Jr., G, Tumwater, WA/A.G. West Black Hills HS), who scored 13 points, and Sami Riggs (Sr., G, La Verne, CA/Bonita HS) with 12 points, also reached double figures for the Bearcats against MSU-Northern. River was 3 for 5 on 3-pointers, as she combined with Ho for 9-of-15 shooting (60%) from behind the arc. As a team, Willamette converted 11 of 23 shots from long range (47.8%).
Ashley Collins (Jr., P, Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills HS) topped Willamette with 11 rebounds and two blocked shots. River added six rebounds and three assists, while Riggs earned five rebounds and three assists. Ashlyn Ascuena-Mercil (Sr., F, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) grabbed five rebounds.
"I'm really proud of the team with our performance today," Willamette Head Women's Basketball Coach Peg Swadener commented. " We did a great job executing our defensive game plan and I thought our effort on the boards was outstanding. It's fun to watch this team come together like they have."
Willamette's defense held MSU-Northern to 58 points, while limiting the Skylights to 41.0% on field goals (25 of 61), including 27.3% on 3-point attempts (3 for 11). WU outscored MSUN 33-9 in 3-point scoring. In addition, the Bearcats outrebounded the Skylights, 36-31, and hit 8 of 11 free throws (72.7%), while MSUN went 5 for 11 (45.5%) at the line.
Briaunna McCullough and Savannah Toms each scored 16 points for the Skylights. Toms hit 7 of 12 field goals and hauled down six rebounds. McCullough finished with four assists and three steals. Jalen Callender matched Toms with six boards and tied McCullough with four assists.
The Bearcats trailed 5-0 after Toms made a layup with 8:26 to go in the first quarter, but WU rallied for a 17-14 lead at the end of the period. A layup by Riggs and a 3-pointer by River tied the score at 5-5 with 7:49 on the clock. Later, WU trailed 14-9 after a layup from Ryley Kehr at the 3:42 mark. The Bearcats answered with an 8-0 run on a traditional three-point play by Ho, a jumper by Danielle Morgan (Sr., F, Lompoc, CA/Allan Hancock HS/California Lutheran Univ.), and a 3-point shot by Kaitlin Imai (Fy., G, Santa Cruz, CA/Scotts Valley HS).
WU extended the run to 10 points when Claire Bonnet (Sr., G, Boise, ID/Boise HS) hit a jump shot 18 second into the second quarter for a 19-14 edge. The Skylights pulled within 19-16 and 21-18, but Riggs sank two free throws with 5:25 remaining in the half and added a layup 17 seconds later for a 25-18 lead. MSUN scored on a 3-point shot by Shaann Danielson before the Bearcats went on a 10-3 run for a 35-23 advantage with 1:50 left. The Skylights scored the final six points of the half.
A 3-pointer from Ho gave the Bearcats a 38-29 lead early in the third quarter. MSU-Northern cut the margin to five points, but WU was in front 42-33 after Riggs hit a jumper at the 6:01 mark. The lead eventually reached 55-38 on a steal by Ho and a layup by Collins with 0:33 left in the quarter. The Skylights went 3 of 4 on free throws in the final six seconds.
Kehr scored the first basket of the fourth quarter for MSUN to cut the lead to 55-43. Riggs hit a pair of free throws with 8:35 to play before the Skylights used a 5-0 run to reduce the margin to 57-48. A 3-pointer by Bonnet opened an 8-2 surge for a 65-50 lead after Ho buried a 3-pointer with 5:49 left. MSU-Northern never got closer than nine points.
Willamette will take on Carroll College in Helena on Monday, Nov. 21 at 11 a.m. MST/10 a.m. PST. The Fighting Saints are 3-3 and ranked #9 in the nation in the NAIA Coaches' Poll.