By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Despite double-digit scoring from Carolyn Ho (Jr., G, Parker, CO/Ponderosa HS) and Kaitlin Imai (Fy., G, Santa Cruz, CA/Scotts Valley HS), the Willamette University Bearcats shot just 24.6% from the field (14 of 57) against Linfield University on Tuesday, Jan. 3, as the Wildcats won 66-51 in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game at Ted Wilson Gymnasium. Both teams ended the game at 6-6 on the season. In the NWC, Linfield improved to 2-1 while the Bearcats fell to 1-2.

Ho scored a team-high 11 points and was 4 for 9 on field goals. She also grabbed four rebounds, to go with three steals and one assist. Imai tallied 10 points and led WU with five rebounds. She was 8 for 10 at the free throw line. Megan River (Jr., G, Tumwater, WA/A.G. West Black Hills HS) finished with eight points for the Bearcats, while Sami Riggs (Sr., G, La Verne, CA/Bonita HS) added seven points. River and Riggs each hauled down four rebounds.

Ashley Collins (Jr., P, Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills HS) led Willamette with two blocked shots, while Claire Bonnet (Jr., G, Boise, ID/Boise HS) blocked one shot. WU forced the Wildcats into 21 turnovers, while the Bearcats lost the ball 13 times.

Janessa Yniguez topped Linfield with 14 points. She was 5 for 8 from the field and made 2 of 4 three-point shots. Eve Burke contributed 10 points and tied for the team lead with six rebounds. Miki Vermuelen was credited with eight points. Gillyan Landis scored seven points and tied Burke with six boards. 

The Bearcats shot 34.6% (9 of 26) in the first half, but slipped to 16.1% (5 of 31) in the second half. WU sank 23 of 31 free throws (74.2%) against the Wildcats, including 14 for 18 (77.8%) in the final two quarters. During the game, Willamette was 0 for 18 on 3-point shots.

Linfield shot extremely well in the first half, hitting 61.5% of its field goals (16 of 26), including 5 of 9 from 3-point range (55.6%). The Wildcats shot 30.8% in the second half (8 of 26), while sinking 1 of 6 three-point attempts. Overall, Linfield was 24 of 52 on field goals (46.2%) and 6 of 15 on 3-pointers (40.0%). LU went 12 for 15 at the free throw line.

The Wildcats built an 8-1 lead in the first 2:10 of the game, including a pair of 3-pointers by Vermuelen. WU cut the margin to 8-7 less than two minutes later after jumpers by Collins and Riggs, and two free throws from Ho. Linfield countered with a 5-0 spurt, as Ella Koebelin tacked on a jump shot and Yniguez put through a 3-pointer. A bit later, the Wildcats held a 17-10 advantage following a layup by Koebelin with 3:22 left in the quarter.

Willamette moved within 17-14 on a jumper from River at the 1:08 mark, but Burke added a trifecta for Linfield with 18 seconds on the clock to give the home team a 20-14 margin entering the second quarter. 

Linfield outscored the Bearcats 17-13 during the second period to take a 37-27 halftime lead. The Wildcats held a 33-20 edge after Paige LaFountain scored on a layup with 2:54 remaining, before the Bearcats went on a 7-4 run to end the half. Imai hit 3 of 4 free throws and also scored on a layup during the run.

In the third quarter, Linfield tallied 15 points while limiting the Bearcats to seven points, as the Wildcats extended their lead to 52-34. LaFountain scored the first points of the fourth quarter for Linfield to increase the margin to 20 points. Willamette replied with a 15-4 surge, led by River with six points and Ashlyn Ascuena-Mercil (Sr., F, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) with three points. The run by the Bearcats reduced the Wildcats' lead to 58-49 with 1:55 to play.

Vermuelen scored on a layup at the 1:42 mark and Linfield converted 6 of 8 free throws the rest of the way to complete the win. 

Willamette will return to action on Saturday, Jan. 7, when the Bearcats are scheduled to host the University of Puget Sound. Game time at Cone Field House in Salem, Oregon, is slated for 4 p.m. (PST).