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

SALEM, ORE. -- Lewis & Clark College put together a 28-6 run to open its game against Willamette University on Friday, Feb. 14, and the Pioneers went on to defeat the Bearcats, 73-49 in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game at Cone Field House.

The Pioneers improved to 11-10 on the season, 6-6 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 3-18 overall, 1-11 in the NWC.

Katie Anderson led L&C with 12 points. Kaitlin Mathewson added 11 and Sarah Bucknovitz scored 10. Taylor Wang put in eight points and grabbed seven rebounds before leaving the game with an injury at the 15:38 mark of the second half.

Willamette was topped by Jojo DeLong (Jr., G, Santa Clarita, CA/Canyon HS), who scored 17 points and hit five three-pointers. Katie Kalugin (Jr., G, Woodburn, OR/Woodburn HS) scored 16 points and registered five steals. Julia Brand (Jr., F, Kaneohe, HI/Punahou School) finished with eight points and a team-high five rebounds.

The Pioneers took a 5-0 lead just over two minutes into the game and extended their advantage to 12-2 with 14:03 on the clock. The Bearcats tallied the next basket on a jumper by Kalugin, but L&C answered with a 16-2 run to claim a 28-6 lead with 6:23 left in the half.

Lewis & Clark was in front 42-16 at halftime. Willamette outscored the Pioneers 33-31 over the final 20 minutes.

The second half began with the teams launching a series of 3-point attempts. L&C received two trifectas from Kathlene Howe and one from Casey Zinn, while DeLong converted two 3-pointers for the Bearcats. During the shooting spree, the teams were a combined 5 of 6 on 3-pointers. With 16:59 remaining, the Pioneers led 51-22.

L&C shot 45.9% for the game (28 of 61) and hit 8 of 18 three-pointers (44.4%). The Pioneers built up a 48-25 rebounding edge, including 22-13 in offensive boards.

Willamette connected on 33.3% of its field goals (19 of 57), but improved from 25.9% in the first half (7 of 27) to 40.0% in the second half (12 of 30). WU made 7 of 30 three-point attempts (23.3%).

The Bearcats forced L&C into 17 turnovers, as Kalugin's five steals helped the Bearcats record nine steals overall. Willamette lost the ball 16 times. Each team scored 19 points off turnovers.

WU will host the University of Puget Sound on Saturday, Feb. 15. Game time at Cone Field House is slated for 6 p.m. (PST).