By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Carolyn Ho (So., G, Parker, CO/Ponderosa HS) scored 20 points and added five assists, while Ava Kitchin (So., F, Redmond, OR/Redmond HS) and Amanda Carpenter (Grad., G, Beaverton, OR/Sunset HS) earned double-doubles, as Willamette University defeated Pacific Lutheran University, 77-61, in Northwest Conference action on Friday, Feb. 4. Kitchin finished with 17 points and 11 rebounds. Carpenter provided the Bearcats with 13 points and 10 boards.
With the win, Willamette moved to 10-9 on the season, including 5-5 in the NWC and 5-3 at Cone Field House. The Lutes slipped to 5-12 overall, 2-8 in the NWC.
In addition to placing three players in double figures, the Bearcats received strong games from Megan River (So., G, Tumwater, WA/A.G. West Black Hills HS) and Sami Riggs (Jr., G, La Verne, CA/Bonita HS). River scored nine points and grabbed six boards, while Riggs contributed eight points and four assists. Carpenter topped WU with three successful 3-point shots.
Pacific Lutheran was led by Josie Napoli, who scored 25 points and registered three steals. Napoli was 10 of 18 on field goals and hit three 3-point shots. Ava Edmonds tacked on 13 points to go with five rebounds. Maddie Plevyak was credited with eight points, while Stacie Spahr hauled down six rebounds for the Lutes.
The Bearcats scored the first five points of the game and owned a 13-2 lead after Ashley Collins put in a layup with 4:22 left in the first quarter. A bit later, PLU cut the margin to 15-8 on a layup by Katy Cook, but Willamette countered with a jump shot by River and a layup from Ho for a 19-8 advantage with 1:34 on the clock. WU was in front 22-14 at the end of the first quarter.
After shooting 64.3% (9 of 14) in the opening stanza, the Bearcats added 60.% shooting (9 of 15) in the second quarter. The Lutes pulled within six points twice during the period, including 27-21 on a 3-pointer by Kasidy Javernick at the 7:30 mark. The Bearcats responded with a 7-0 run on a layup by Ho, a layup from River, and a 3-pointer by Ho, increasing the lead to 34-21 with 6:14 to go in the half.
WU took its largest lead of the half at 44-28 on a 3-pointer from Ashlyn Ascuena-Mercil (Jr., F, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) with 43 seconds to play. Plevyak scored on a layup for PLU with 22 seconds remaining to reduce the Lutes' deficit to 44-30 at halftime.
The Bearcats started the third quarter with a 6-2 run to extend the margin to 18 points at 50-32. The Lutes moved within 50-39 when Cook completed a 7-0 run with a layup with 6:10 left in the quarter. Willamette added a 3-pointer by Carpenter and a layup from Collins for a 55-39 advantage. PLU scored the next 10 points -- including six by Plevyak -- to reduce the lead to 55-49 at the 2:40 mark.
Just 20 seconds later, Carpenter drilled a 3-pointer to give WU a 58-49 lead. Ascuena-Mercil sank 1 of 2 free throws with 56 seconds on the clock to increase the lead to 59-49 entering the fourth quarter.
Although PLU outscored Willamette 19-15 in the third quarter, the Bearcats outpaced the Lutes 18-12 in the final period. The first seven points of the quarter went to the Bearcats, ending with a 3-pointer by River, as the margin moved to 66-49. Willamette grabbed a 73-53 lead on a free throw by Kitchin at the 2:51 mark.
For the game, the Bearcats shot 48.4% (30 of 62), while hitting 7 of 18 attempts from 3-point range (38.9%). WU was 10 for 17 at the free throw line. The Bearcats limited PLU to 38.2% on field goal shooting (26 of 68), including just 26.7% (4 of 15) in the fourth quarter. The Lutes connected on 4 of 23 three-point shots (17.4%) and sank 5 of 8 free throws. The Bearcats earned a 46-32 rebounding edge and recorded 21 assists on 30 baskets.
Willamette will take on the University of Puget Sound on Saturday, Feb. 5. Game time at Cone Field House is set for 4 p.m. (PST).
