By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University scored the first eight points of the game and held a 23-8 lead after the first quarter, as the Bearcats started strong in a 67-43 victory over Warner Pacific University on Monday, Nov. 14 at Cone Field House. Sami Riggs (Sr., G, La Verne, CA/Bonita HS) led all players with 14 points for the Bearcats and Megan River (Jr., G, Tumwater, WA/A.G. West Black Hills HS) tacked on 11 points. The Bearcats held a 41-18 advantage at halftime.

Warner Pacific was unable to get closer than 19 points during the third quarter and Willamette entered the fourth quarter with a 48-25 lead. The Bearcats improved to 2-0 on the season, while the Knights dropped to 0-2.

Riggs hit 5 of 10 field goals and made 4 of 5 free throws to reach her 14 points. She also finished with four rebounds, three steals, and one assist. In addition to scoring 11 points, River supplied WU with five rebounds, three assists, and one steal. Emma Floyd (Fy., F, Camano Island, WA/Stanwood HS) scored nine points. Carolyn Ho (Jr., G, Parker, CO/Ponderosa HS) contributed eight points and seven rebounds to go along with game-highs of five steals and five assists.

Paityn Rhode provided Warner Pacific with 10 points. Alexa Mee added seven points and recorded a game-high 10 rebounds. Emily Brown earned six rebounds, plus two steals and four points.

The Knights committed 33 turnovers and the Bearcats earned 22 steals. Ho's five steals paced the WU defense, while Danielle Morgan (Sr., F, Lompoc, CA/Allan Hancock HS/California Lutheran Univ.) made four steals to go along with five rebounds. Three Bearcats -- Riggs, Ashlyn Ascuena-Mercil (Sr., F, Boise, ID/Timberline HS), and Kaitlin Imai (Fy., G, Santa Cruz, CA/Scotts Valley HS) -- each registered three steals. The Bearcats also built a 40-34 rebounding margin.

Willamette shot 34.3% for the game (24 of 70), including 50.0% in the first quarter, when the Bearcats hit 8 of 16 attempts. WU sank 14 of 19 free throws (73.7%), while Warner Pacific connected on 7 of 9 charity shots (77.8%). The Bearcats made five 3-point shots and the Knights put through four 3-pointers.

The 8-0 start for the Bearcats began with two baskets by Riggs. River scored next and Riggs completed the run with a steal and layup at the 6:18 mark of the first quarter. WU owned a 13-2 lead after Ho hit a 3-pointer with 4:59 on the clock. Warner Pacific reduced the margin to seven points at 15-8 on a 3-point basket by Larsa Guzman with 2:33 to go. The Bearcats closed the quarter with their second 8-0 run for a 23-8 advantage.

Rhode of WPU ended the run by scoring on a 3-pointer with 8:03 left in the half. Peyton Gardner (Fy., G, Bend, OR/Bend HS) of Willamette added a 3-pointer 18 seconds later, and Rhode hit another 3-point shot with 7:29 to go, leaving the Bearcats with a 26-14 lead. The Knights were unable to pull closer, as Willamette closed out the half with a 15-4 run.

Willamette maintained a comfortable lead throughout the second half, as the Bearcats locked up their second win in four days. The Bearcats downed Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (Calif.), 76-59, in the season opener on Friday.

Up next for Willamette is a game against Montana State Northern on Sunday, Nov. 20 in Helena, Montana. The game will be played at Carroll College with the tipoff set for 2 p.m. (PST). The Bearcats will remain in Helena to take on Carroll on Monday, Nov. 21 at 11 a.m.