By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Kassin Hopkins (Sr., G, Connell, WA/Connell HS/Bellevue College) scored 17 points and Willamette University connected on 11 shots from 3-point range, as the Bearcats defeated Vancouver Island University (B.C., Canada), 61-56, at Cone Field House on Saturday, Dec. 21. The contest was a regular season game for Willamette. It was an exhibition game for Vancouver Island.
The Bearcats improved to 7-3 on the season. Vancouver Island remained 6-0 in regular season games against Canadian opponents.
In addition to topping Willamette with 17 points, Hopkins also registered six rebounds, five assists and a steal. Sami Riggs (Fy., G, La Verne, CA/Bonita HS) added 14 points and four rebounds, while Madison Ballard (So., G, Monroe, OR/Monroe HS) scored 13 points.
Drew Farmer (Sr., PG, Brookings, OR/Brookings-Harbor HS) contributed 10 points, five assists, four steals and three rebounds for Willamette. Elizabeth Logsdon (Sr., F, McMinnville, OR/McMinnville HS) grabbed 10 boards and blocked three shots.
Shayce Johnston was Vancouver Island's leading scorer with 16 points. Amber Lease registered 15 points and five steals for the Mariners. Kiara Johnston hauled down 10 rebounds.
Hopkins and Ballard each hit a trio of 3-pointers for the Bearcats, as Willamette sank 11 of 30 three-point shots (36.8%). The Mariners converted just 1 of 9 three-point attempts (11.1%).
Vancouver Island led 8-4 after Lease scored on a steal and layup with 6:10 left in the first quarter. WU scored next on a jumper by Riggs, but the Mariners tallied six of the next eight points, ending with a layup by Madeline Hart for a 14-8 lead. A layup by Riggs and a 3-pointer by Ballard allowed the Bearcats to pull within 14-13 with 32 seconds left in the quarter. Hart added a layup, giving VIU a 16-13 lead after 10 minutes.
Willamette moved in front 18-16 with 7:20 remaining in the half on a 3-pointer by Farmer, and increased the lead to 21-16 when Farmer tacked on a traditional three-point play at the 5:30 mark. The Mariners pulled within 21-18 on a basket by Danielle Vanbergen, but Ballard scored on a 3-pointer to give WU a 26-18 margin with 3:19 to play. The Bearcats held a 29-25 advantage at halftime.
A 3-point basket by Hopkins put Willamette up 34-28 with 6:37 remaining in the third quarter. The Mariners used a 9-2 run to grab a 37-36 edge following a layup by Lease at the 3:53 mark. WU moved in front 38-37 on a layup from Ballard with 2:08 to go, but Vanbergen gave VIU a 39-38 lead by scoring the final basket of the quarter.
Hopkins registered the first points of the fourth quarter on a 3-point shot with 8:49 to go, as Willamette moved in front, 41-39. The Bearcats stayed in front the rest of the way.
A layup and foul shot by Hopkins as the clock reached 5:44 increased the lead to 50-43. VIU scored next, but a 3-point basket by Riggs with 5:20 left gave the Bearcats a 53-45 advantage. WU eventually led 60-49 with 1:03 remaining after Farmer sank 1 of 2 free throws to complete a 7-0 run. The Mariners scored seven of the game's final eight points.
Willamette shot 38.6% from the field (22 of 57) and made 6 of 9 free throws (66.7%). Vancouver Island was 23 of 61 from the field (37.7%) and went 9 for 16 at the line (56.3%). WU gained a slim 39-38 rebounding margin.
The Bearcats will return to action at George Fox University in Newberg, Oregon, on Friday, Jan. 3. The Northwest Conference game is scheduled to start at 6 p.m. (PST).
