By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Jasmine Shigeno (Sr., G, Brush Prairie, WA/Hockinson HS) hit a 3-point basket from the left corner with 1.1 seconds remaining in the fourth quarter to send Willamette University to a 55-52 victory over Whittier College in a non-conference women's basketball game on Sunday, Nov. 12 at Cone Field House. Willamette improved to 1-1 on the season, while the Poets dropped to 1-1.

Prior to Shigeno's 3-pointer, Whittier tied the game at 52-52 with 23 seconds left when Rhe Nae Leach scored on a layup and added a free throw for a traditional three-point play. Willamette called timeout, advanced the ball, and worked to set up a game-winning shot. With about seven seconds on the clock, Ava Kitchin (Sr., P, Redmond, OR/Redmond HS) drove toward the basket. As she went into the lane near the end line, she passed the ball to Shigeno, who was open for the 3-pointer.

After Willamette took the lead back, Whittier called timeout and advanced the ball. Lainie James attempted a 23-foot three-pointer with one-half second to go, but the shot went wide left of the basket as time expired.

The Bearcats held a 17-6 advantage at the end of the first quarter and Willamette was in front 32-20 at halftime. Entering the final quarter, Willamette held a 45-39 edge. A bit later, the Bearcats owned a 51-38 lead at the 7:10 mark following two free throws by Elyse Waldal (Jr., Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS/Linfield University).

The Poets gradually reduced the lead as Willamette went five minutes and 58 seconds without scoring. Whittier pulled within 51-46 when LuLu Shaloom sank the first of two free throws with 1:51 on the clock. A lane violation by Lalli Gurrola wiped out the second free throw. The Bearcats ended their scoreless streak when Kaitlin Imai (So., G, Santa Cruz, CA/Scotts Valley HS) made 1 of 2 free throws with 1:12 remaining for a 52-26 lead.

Leach completed a traditional three-point play with 58 seconds to play, reducing Willamette's lead to 52-49. Salloom blocked a shot by Danielle Morgan (Sr., F, Lompoc, CA/Lompoc HS/California Lutheran Univ.) of Willamette with 28 seconds left, and Leach earned her tying three-point opportunity seconds later.

Waldal topped the Willamette roster with 23 points to go with eight rebounds. She led all players with three 3-point baskets, while Shigeno made two 3-pointers. Kitchin chipped in eight points, eight rebounds, four assists, and four steals for the Bearcats. Carolyn Ho (Sr., G, Parker, CO/Ponderosa HS) produced four points, seven rebounds, and four assists, while Morgan earned four points, five boards, and four assists.

Leach of Whittier scored a game-high 31 points and was 12 for 20 on field goals. She also grabbed eight rebounds, claimed four steals, and blocked three shots. Salloom finished with seven points and a 13 rebounds, while earning three assists and three steals. James was credited with six points and six boards. Willamette registered a 10-2 lead in bench scoring.

Both teams finished with low shooting percentages from the field. Willamette shot 31.7% overall (20 of 63), including 22.9% (8 of 35) on 3-pointers. The Poets shot 32.1% for the game (17 of 52) and sank just 3 of 18 three-pointers (16.7%). The teams shot well at the free throw line, as Whittier went 15 for 19 (78.9%) and the Bearcats were 7 for 10 (70.0%).

The Bearcats earned a 42-37 rebounding lead, including a 17-9 edge in offensive boards. Willamette recorded a 14-6 advantage in second-chance points.

Next weekend, the Bearcats will compete in the Ken Schumann Classic at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon. On Friday, Nov. 17, Willamette will take on the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (Texas) at 2 p.m. PST. On Saturday, Oct. 18, the Bearcats will play Chapman University (Calif.) at 2 p.m.