SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's basketball team lost its home opener to Northwest Christian University, 72-43, on Saturday, Nov. 20. Northwest Christian improved to 3-3 with the win. The Bearcats dropped to 0-2 overall.
Maya McFaddin (Jr., F, McMinnville, OR/McMinnville HS) scored the first basket of the game to give the Bearcats an early 2-0 advantage. A bucket by Kaileigh Westermann (Jr., F, Belfair, WA/South Kitsap HS) tied the game at 5-5 with 13:26 remaining in the first half. However, the Beacons utilized three 3-point baskets and capitalized on Willamette turnovers to take a 28-20 lead into halftime.
Northwest Christian came out hot in the second half, scoring the first seven points to take a 35-20 advantage with 18:09 remaining in the game. The Beacons continued to shoot well throughout the second half, connecting on 14 of 33 shots (44.2%). For the game, Northwest Christian shot 38.2% from the field and 28.6% from the 3-point line (6 for 21).
Willamette finished the game 14 for 52 (26.9%) from the field. The Bearcats missed an opportunity to score easy points from the free throw line where the team finished 14 of 31 (45.2%).
Alex Zennan (Jr, G, Sammamish, WA/Eastlake HS) paced Willamette with 11 points. She added five rebounds. Zennan connected on 5 of 6 free throw attempts.
Westermann finished with five points and eight rebounds. Four of her rebounds were on the offensive end. The Bearcats pulled down 14 offensive rebounds as a team. Northwest Christian outrebounded Willamette, 49-44.
Alex Brunt-Pluta (Fr., P, Encinitas, CA/Canyon Crest Academy) pulled down eight rebounds for Willamette and chipped in five points.
Hope Williams led the way for Northwest Christian. She scored 14 points and hauled down 12 rebounds. Katey Monteith tacked on 11 points and five boards, while Aly Bruns produced 10 points, five rebounds, five steals and three assists.
Willamette is back in action on Monday, Nov. 22 at 7 p.m. (PST) against Eastern Oregon University.
BOX SCORE
Northwest Christian Univ. 72
Willamette University 43
Zennan scored 11 points for WU.
