By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Warner Pacific College hit 27 of 30 free throws, including 16 of 16 in the first half, as the Knights defeated Willamette University, 84-73, at Cone Field House on Thursday, Dec. 4. Warner Pacific evened its record at 4-4, while the Bearcats fell to 1-4.

Kelsey Mattsen led the Knights with 25 points. She was 8 of 18 from the field and 8 for 10 at the free throw line. Katie Allen added 21 points on 6 of 9 field goals and 8 of 8 free throws.

Tiana Abbley (Fr., G, Honolulu, HI/Kamehameha School) scored 18 points and was one of four players in double figures for Willamette. Abbley made 7 of 11 shots from the field, including 4 for 4 on three-pointers. She led the Bearcats with three steals.

Also reaching double digits in scoring for the Bearcats were Alex Zennan (So., PG, Sammamish, WA/Eastlake HS) with 16 points, Nicki Clowdsley (So., Post, Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS) with 12 points and Jenny Fillion (Sr., G, Silverton, OR/Silverton HS/Linn-Benton HS) with 11 points. Jenny Fillion topped the Bearcats with six assists and also earned one blocked shot and one steal.

WU shot 46.4% from the field (26 of 56) and made 5 of 14 three-pointers (35.7%). The 'Cats were 16 of 23 (69.6% at the charity stripe.

Warner Pacific shot 51.5% (17 of 33) from the field in the first half. The Knights held a 52-41 lead at the intermission.

Zennan scored on a jump shot just 10 seconds into the second half, as WU cut the lead to nine points. The Knights countered with a 9-0 run for a 61-43 margin with 17:26 left in the game. Neither team scored again until Abbley sank a 3-pointer for Willamette at the 14:40 mark.

Bethany Baumann made a layup for WPC to extend the lead to 63-46. Willamette charged back, eventually pulling within six points, 73-67, on a 3-pointer by Abbley with 5:22 to go. The 'Cats also reduced the margin to six at 77-71, when Jenny Fillion hit a jumper with 4:10 remaining.

Allen tacked on a 3-pointer for the Knights for an 80-71 lead at the 3:43 mark. Zennan sank two free throws for Willamette with 3:12 on the clock, as the Bearcats, but Warner Pacific tallied the final four points of the game.

WPC finished the non-conference contest with a 46-27 rebounding advantage, including 21 offensive boards. Jacque Barton ended the night with a game-high 13 rebounds for the Knights, while Stephankie Rider grabbed nine rebounds. In the second half, Warner Pacific needed its offensive boards (12) to offset 30.3% shooting from the floor (10 of 33).

Molly Fillion (Sr., G, Silverton, OR/Silverton HS/Linn-Benton HS) provided a team-high eight rebounds for Willamette and also scored nine points. Clowdsley hauled down seven boards for the 'Cats.

Willamette will host cross-town rival Corban College on Tuesday, Dec. 9. Game time at Cone Field House is set for 7 p.m. (PST).