By Timothy Walsh, Athletics Communications Writer
PORTLAND, Ore. -- The University of Portland placed four players in double figures and outscored Willamette University 44-14 in the paint, as the Pilots defeated the Bearcats, 73-54, on Saturday, Nov. 14 at the Chiles Center. It was a regular season game for Portland, which competes in NCAA Division I and improved to 1-0 on the year. The game was an exhibition for Willamette, which is a member of NCAA Division III and has yet to begin its regular season.
The Pilots were led by Ellie Woerner, who topped all scorers with 19 points on 8 of 10 shooting from the field, including 3 of 5 on three-pointers. She also grabbed a game-high six rebounds. Corissa Turley contributed 12 ponts, while Ashley Gray and Kaylie Van Loo each scored 11 points. Portland shot 47.6% (30 of 63) from the field and 7 of 17 (41.2%) from beyond the arc.
Willamette's Kylie Towry (Jr./So., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS) scored 13 points on 5 of 8 shooting to pace the Bearcats. Towry was 3 of 6 on three-pointers. Alex Wert (F, Spokane, WA/St. George's HS) finished with 12 points, and went 7 of 8 at the free throw line. Marisa Hamilton (Jr./So., F, Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) added seven points off the bench for Willamette.
The Bearcats shot just 32.1% from the field (17 of 53), but converted 14 of 17 attempts at the free throw line for 82.4% accuracy at the charity stripe. Willamette was 6 for 29 (20.7%) on three-point tries.
Aided by their distinct height advantage, the Pilots achieved a 49-27 rebounding advantage, outscored the Bearcats 44-14 in the paint, and earned an 18-5 edge in second chance points. Willamette forced Portland into 20 turnovers, while the Bearcats turned the ball over just 15 times.
The Pilots led from start to finish, with a Woerner jumper keying an 8-0 run to begin the contest. Madi Andresen (So., F, Forest Grove, OR/Forest Grove HS) put Willamette on the board with two free throws at the 7:24 mark of the first quarter, but another 8-0 Portland run stretched the lead to 16-2 with 5:26 remaining.
The Bearcats countered with a 12-2 run, capped by a three-pointer by Ashley Evans (So., PG, Canby, OR/Canby HS), to pull Willamette within 18-14 with 2:00 on the clock. Van Loo ended the run with a layup, and the Pilots stretched their lead out to 24-17 at the end of the first quarter.
Willamette began the second quarter with a three-point play from Kali Vickery (Fr., G, Glide, OR/Glide HS) to cut Portland's lead back to 24-20. But the Pilots responded with an 8-2 mini-run to push the margin back to 32-22, and after Andresen scored a layup for the Bearcats, Portland answered with a three-pointer by Darian Slaga to take a 35-24 lead with 3:29 left before halftime.
Andresen and Hamilton sandwiched two free throws and a jumper around a layup from the Pilots' Julie Spencer, leaving Portland with a 37-28 advantage at the break.
The second half began with a 12-5 Pilot run, as Portland claimed a 49-33 lead. But Willamette scored 9 of the next 11 points, with two trifectas from Towry and three free throws from Wert. When Wert connected on a pair of foul shots with 1:49 left in the third quarter, the Bearcats had reduced the margin to 51-42.
Portland then went on a 14-4 run that stretched into the fourth quarter, increasing the Pilots' lead to 65-46 with 7:46 left in the game. Four straight free throws from Wert brought Willamette back within 15, but Van Loo responded with a layup, and the Bearcats never got closer.
The Bearcats will begin regular season play on Friday, Nov. 20, with a game against Dallas Christian College at the Multnomah University Invitational in Portland, Ore. Dallas Christian competes in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA). Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. (PST) at Multnomah University.
