By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
PORTLAND, Ore. -- Willamette University placed five players in double figures and the Bearcats never trailed on their way to an 89-65 win over Multnomah University on Saturday, Nov. 21. Willamette won both of its games in the Multnomah Invitational to start the season 2-0. Multnomah fell to 2-4.
It was the most points scored by the Bearcats since a 92-40 victory against Elms College (Mass.) on Dec. 30, 2002.
Marisa Hamilton (Jr./So., F, Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) led Willamette with 18 points. She was 7 of 10 on field goals and went 4 for 4 at the free throw line. She recorded six rebounds
Kylie Towry (Jr./So., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS) scored 16 points, while Mary Eckenrode (So., PG, Higley, AZ/Highland HS) contributed 13 and Madi Andresen (So., F, Forest Grove, OR/Forest Grove HS) tacked on 12. Ashley Evans (So., PG, Canby, OR/Canby HS) earned 11 points.
In addition, Whitney Anderson (So., G, Willamina, OR/Willamina HS) tallied nine points -- all in the first half. Alex Wert (Jr., F, Spokane, WA/St. George's HS) scored seven points and hauled down a career-high 16 rebounds.
Willamette was credited with 17 assists on 30 baskets. Evans supplied six assists, while Towry added five. WU outrebounded the Lions, 50-31, while securing 18 offensive board.
Multnomah was topped by Miranda Schmillen with a game-high 19 points. Lexie Govert added 18 points for the Lions. Schmillen hit 6 of 13 field goals and Govert sank 7 of 13 shots.
Bethany George scored 11 points for Multnomah and also blocked four shots. Valerie Wakefield finished with nine points and six rebounds.
After taking a 25-9 lead at the end of the first quarter against Dallas Christian College on Friday, the Bearcats surged out to a 23-11 lead in the first quarter on Saturday.
WU led 5-0 on a 3-pointer by Evans and a layup by Anderson. The lead increased to 15-5 after Anderson sank a 3-point shot with 3:15 remaining in the quarter. Two free throws from Hamilton and one from Anderson upped the margin to 13 points at 18-5.
In the second quarter, the Bearcats held a 34-16 lead following a layup by Hamilton with 5:34 on the clock. A bit later, Willamette's lead was 36-21 after Towry put in a layup at the 2:09 mark.
Multnomah ended the half with a 8-2 run to pull within 38-29. The Lions achieved an 18-15 scoring edge in the second quarter.
The Bearcats took charge in the third quarter. The Lions still trailed by nine points, 42-33, with 7:40 left in the quarter, but Willamette countered with a 16-1 run that ended with 12 consecutive points for a 58-34 lead. WU outscored the Lions 25-16 during the quarter for a 63-45 margin.
Multnomah went on a 5-0 run to start the fourth quarter and cut the deficit to 63-50. The Bearcats responded by scoring 10 of the next 14 points, including 3-pointers by Kelsey Walker (So., G, Westerville, OH/Westerville North HS) and Evans, for a 73-54 lead with 6:14 to go.
Willamette will play two game at the David Wells Classic in Claremont, California, next weekend. On Friday, Nov. 27, the Bearcats will take on host Claremont-Mudd-Scripps at 7 p.m. (PST). Then on Saturday, Nov. 28, WU will battle Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.) at 7 p.m.
