By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

TACOMA, Wash. -- Willamette University placed three starters in double figures and the Bearcats shot 53.2% from the field, while hitting seven 3-pointers, to earn a 70-59 road victory against Pacific Lutheran University on Saturday, Feb. 15. The Bearcats upped their record to 13-10 on the season, clinching a winning regular season record, while moving into sole possession of fourth place in the Northwest Conference standings at 7-7. The top four teams when the regular season ends next weekend will qualify for the NWC Tournament. Pacific Lutheran dropped to 5-9 in the NWC.

WU entered the day tied with Linfield College for fourth place, but Lewis & Clark College defeated the Wildcats, 79-71, in Portland, Oregon. Also on Saturday, Whitworth University defeated George Fox University, 75-69, in Spokane, Washington. Linfield, Whitworth and the University of Puget Sound are all tied for fifth place with NWC records of 6-8.

In the Bearcats' win at PLU, Kassin Hopkins (Sr., Connell, WA/Connell HS/Bellevue College) registered a team-high 16 points. She connected on 5 of 7 field goals, made two 3-pointers, and hauled down six boards. Sami Riggs (Fy., G, La Verne, CA/Bonita HS) put in 15 points and was 6 of 10 from the field. Amanda Carpenter (Jr., G, Beaverton, OR/Sunset HS) scored 14 points, as she made 5 of 10 shots, including 4 of 8 attempts from 3-point range.

Ava Kitchin (Fy., F, Redmond, OR/Redmond HS) scored seven points and grabbed seven rebounds for the Bearcats. Ashlyn Ascuena-Mercil (Fy., F, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) hauled down six boards, while Drew Farmer (Sr., PG, Brookings, OR/Brookings-Harbor HS) supplied four points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals.

Emma Janousek topped the Lutes with 20 points and six assists. She also recorded three steals. Megan Drake chipped in 15 points, including a trio of 3-point baskets. Tony Thibert scored 14 points, while Kylie Radamacher attained six points, five rebounds and three steals.

Willamette outscored Pacific Lutheran 24-13 in the first quarter and held a 38-26 lead at halftime. After gaining a 20-16 scoring edge in the third quarter, the Bearcats entered the fourth quarter with a 58-42 advantage.

PLU scored the first 10 points of the fourth quarter, including a 3-pointer by Drake, as Willamette's margin dropped to 58-52 with 5:49 left. After Hopkins hit a jump shot for the Bearcats at the 5:23 mark. Thibert put through a 3-pointer for the Lutes with 4:28 to play, as PLU pulled within 60-55.

Farmer increased Willamette's lead to 62-55 as the clock reached 3:24, and the score stayed the same for more than two minutes. Janousek added a layup for the Lutes to reduce the lead to 62-57 with 1:15 remaining. Willamette scored nest on a jumper by Hopkins with 40 seconds to go, and the Bearcats sank 6 of 6 free throws the rest of the way to seal the win.

Willamette's high-scoring first quarter featured all four of Carpenter's 3-pointers, as she led the way with 12 points. During WU's strong third quarter, Riggs and Elizabeth Logsdon (Sr., F, McMinnville, OR/McMinnville HS) each scored six points, while Madison Ballard (So., G, Monroe, OR/Monroe HS) added four points.

The Bearcats converted 25 of 47 field goals during the game (53.2%), while hitting 7 of 17 shots from behind the arc (41.2%). Willamette was 13 for 17 at the free throw line (76.5%). Willamette limited PLU to 36.4% shooting (24 of 66). The Lutes made 5 of 13 three-pointers (38.5%) and went 6 of 12 at the free throw line.

Pacific Lutheran forced Willamette into 23 turnovers, while the Lutes lost the ball 12 times. The Bearcats played strong defense following the turnovers, forcing PLU to settle for a 14-9 edge in points off turnovers. Meanwhile, Willamette gained a 15-2 advantage in bench scoring and outrebounded the Lutes, 38-32.

Up next for the Bearcats will be a return trip to Tacoma to take on Puget Sound on Friday, Feb. 21 at 6 p.m. (PST). Willamette will close out the regular season with Senior Night on Saturday, Feb. 22 against Pacific University starting at 4 p.m.