Wilson Tops Willamette with 14 Points
SALEM, ORE. -- Whitman College held Willamette University to 23.4% shooting from the field, as the Missionaries defeated the Bearcats, 75-34, on Friday, Feb. 15 at Cone Field House. Willamette hit just 11 of 47 shots during the game. Whitman shot 48.5% from the field (32 of 66), while making 16 of 33 field goals in each half.
With the win, the Missionaries improved to 19-4 on the season, 12-3 in the NWC. Whitman is not nationally ranked, but the Missionaries received points in both the WBCA Coaches Poll and the D3hoops.com Top 25 this week. Willamette moved to 2-21 overall, 2-12 in the NWC.
Whitman was led by a trio of players in double figures. Mary Madden tallied 12 points and sank 5 of 6 field goals. Sarah Anderegg and Heather Lovelace tacked on 10 points each, with Anderegg hitting 5 of 11 shots and Lovelace going 5 for 7 from the floor.
Meghan White added nine points and a game-high 10 rebounds for Whitman. The Missionaries achieved a 53-22 rebounding advantage.
Senior guard Sophie Wilson (Port Townsend, WA/Port Townsend HS) topped the Bearcats with 14 points, as she made 5 of 10 field goals, including 4 of 8 on 3-point shots. Rebecca Josephson (Jr., G, Fair Oaks, CA/Del Campo HS) contributed eight points for Willamette.
The Missionaries took charge early, scoring the first six points on their way to a 14-4 lead. Whitman extended the margin to 19 points, 25-6, when Meghan White scored on a jump shot with 11:29 left in the first half to complete an 11-0 run.
Two 3-pointers by Wilson stopped Whitman's run and began an 11-2 run by the Bearcats. Jojo DeLong (So., G, Santa Clarita, CA/Canyon HS) provided four points during the run, helping WU cut the deficit to 27-17 with 4:15 remaining in the half.
Whitman countered with eight consecutive points -- four each by White and Madden -- to take a 35-17 lead at the 2:32 mark. The Missionaries were in front 39-23 at halftime.
During the second half, the Missionaries added 36 points to their score, while holding Willamette to just 11 points. WU shot 18.2% (4 of 22) over the final 20 minutes. Meanwhile, Whitman grabbed 11 of its 20 offensive boards in the second half, and outscored the Bearcats 12-0 on second chance points during the period.
Both teams committed 16 turnovers during the game. Whitman was credited with 11 steals, including five by Heather Johns. Wilson and Josephson each earned two steals for the Bearcats, who finished with six steals overall.
The Bearcats will play their final home game of the season on Saturday, Feb. 16 at 4 p.m. (PST) against Whitworth University. The Pirates defeated Linfield College, 69-53, on Friday.
Willamette will conclude the season on Tuesday, Feb. 19 at Linfield. Game time in McMinnville, Ore., is set for 6 p.m. (PST).
Sophie Wilson scored 14 points for the Bearcats. She was 5 of 10 on field goals, including 4 of 8 on 3-point shots.
