By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director
SALEM, Ore. -- Kylie Towry (Jr./So., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS) scored a game-high 19 points and connected on five 3-pointers to lead Willamette University past Linfield College, 57-48, on Saturday, Jan. 9 at Cone Field House. The Bearcats trailed the Wildcats 36-35 after 30 minutes, but outscored Linfield 22-12 in the final quarter.
Willamette advanced its record to 10-3 on the season, 2-2 in the Northwest Conference. The Bearcats have reached double-digit wins for the first time since 2001-02 team finished 11-14.
Towry was joined in double figrues by Whitney Anderson (So., G, Willamina, OR/Willamina HS), who scored 11 points and added two 3-pointers. Anderson led WU with four assists. Alex Wert (Jr., F, Spokane, WA/St. George's HS) provided a solid game, as she earned nine rebounds, six points, five steals and three assists.
For the season, Towry is 38 of 88 (43.2%) on 3-point shots. She it tied for sixth all-time at Willamette with 128 career 3-pointers.
Quincey Gibson topped Linfield with 15 points and scored all three of the Wildcats' 3-point baskets. Hannah Depew added 10 points and was 5 of 9 from the field.
Willamette opened the scoring with a 3-pointer by Towry just 34 seconds into the game. The Bearcats led 8-4 after another 3-pointer by Towry with 7:35 on the clock.
Linfield followed with an 8-0 run to take a 12-8 advantage with 40 seconds left in the first quarter. The first six points of the run were scored by Depew.
Wert put in a jumper as the quarter expired, pulling the Bearcats within 12-10.
The second period was a back-and-forth battle that included two ties and eight lead changes. The Wildcats owned an 18-16 advantage at the 5:44 mark on a layup by Gibson. Willamette claimed a 22-20 lead a minute and a half later on a 3-pointer by Anderson.
Linfield gained the final lead of the half at 24-22 after a layup by Audrey McMillan with 4:01 remaining and a jumper by Gibson with 1:04 to go. Towry led all scorers at halftime with 11 points.
Twenty-eight seconds into the second half, Linfield took a 26-22 lead when Gibson made a jump shot. Neither team scored again for nearly five minutes until Kelsey Walker (So., G, Westerville, OH/Westerville North HS) put in a jumper for the Bearcats with 4:39 on the clock.
The Wildcats increased their lead to 29-24 after a 3-pointer from Gibson with 3:37 left in the quarter. WU countered with a 6-0 run, ending with a layup by Towry, as the Bearcats surged in front 30-29. There were six more lead changes in the final 1:57. Linfield entered the fourth quarter with a 36-35 lead.
Willamette went on a 12-2 run to open the final period. The Bearcats surged out to a 47-38 lead.
Marisa Hamilton (Jr./So., F, Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) started the run with a jump shot. After Depew answered for Linfield, Kali Vickery (Fr., G, Glide, OR/Glide HS) hit a layup for WU and Hamilton added another layup for a 43-38 edge.
Madi Andresen (So., F, Forest Grove, OR/Forest Grove HS) scored the final four ponts of the key offensive outburst by hitting two free throws with 5:37 to go and tacking on a jumper at the 4:51 mark.
Linfield got as close as five points at 53-48 with 1:08 remaining on a jumper by Jessica McMillan. Andresen hit a layup for Willamette with 41 seconds left and Anderson added two free throws with 18 seconds left to return the Bearcats to a nine-point margin.
Willamette shot 41.9% (13 of 31) in the second half to finish the game at 35.6% (21 of 59). WU made 7 of 19 three-pointers (36.8%) and sank 8 of 9 free throws. The Bearcats recorded nine steals and forced Linfield into 22 turnovers. Willamette lost the ball 15 times.
The Wildcats shot 40.4% from the field during the game (21 of 52), connected on 3 of 16 three-pointers (18.8%), and went 3 for 4 at the line. Linfield ended the game with a 36-30 rebounding margin.
Saturday's match-up opened a four-game homestand for the Bearcats. Willamette will take on Whitworth University on Friday, Jan. 15 at 6 p.m. (PST). The homestand continues against Whitman College on Saturday, Jan. 16 at 4 p.m. and George Fox University on Tuesday, Jan. 19 at 6 p.m.
