By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Sophomore guard Kaitlin Imai (Santa Cruz, CA/Scotts Valley HS) scored a career-high 21 points for Willamette University, but Concordia University Wisconsin defeated the Bearcats, 61-54, in the first round of the Colorado College Thanksgiving Classic on Friday, Nov. 24 at Reid Arena. Imai connected on 8 of 15 field goal attempts, while hitting a trio of 3-point baskets. She also provided WU with five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.
The Falcons upped their record to 3-1, while the Bearcats moved to 1-4. Colorado College defeated Illinois Institute of Technology 80-41 in the other first round game. The Bearcats will take on Illinois Tech on Saturday, Nov. 25 at 1 p.m. CST/12 p.m. PST.
Imai's 21 points led all players on both teams. For Willamette, Elyse Waldal (Jr., Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS/Linfield University) added 10 points and two 3-point baskets, while Ashley Collins (Sr., P, Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills HS) scored seven points and hauled down five rebounds.
Ava Kitchin (Sr., P, Redmond, OR/Redmond HS) topped the Bearcats with seven rebounds. Addie Hiler (Fy., F, Boise, ID/Bishop Kelly HS) and Carolyn Ho (Sr., G, Parker, CO/Ponderosa HS) each earned five boards. Kitchin also contributed five points and blocked three shots. The Bearcats blocked six shots overall.
Willamette has played all five games without starting point guard Megan River (Sr., G, Tumwater, WA/A.G. West Black Hills HS), who has been out of the lineup due to an injury. Last year, River led the Bearcats with 3.1 assists per game and ranked second on the team with 10.8 points per game.
Ava Booth provided the Falcons with a team-high 16 points. Erin Viergutz and Lindsey Lonigro each tacked on 10 points for Concordia. Aubrey DeBauch tallied nine points and hauled down a game-high 15 rebounds. Jayden Ross supplied the Falcons with five assists and also grabbed nine boards. Viergutz provided seven rebounds.
Both teams connected on 21 field goals and Willamette held a 6-3 edge in 3-point baskets. The Falcons gained an advantage on free throws, as Concordia finished 16 for 23 at the line and Willamette was 6 for 9. The Bearcats were called for 23 fouls, while nine fouls were recorded against CUW. The Falcons were 21 of 54 from the field (38.9%), while the Bearcats made 21 of 69 shots (30.4%). From 3-point range, CWU was 3 for 10 (30.0%) and Willamette was 6 for 29 (20.7%).
Willamette and Concordia were tied at 10-10 with 6:34 left in the first quarter following a pair of free throws by Kitchin. The Falcons tallied six unanswered points, including four by Booth, to grab a 16-10 lead with 1:18 left in the quarter. Ho scored on a jump shot with seven seconds to go, reducing the Falcons' advantage to 16-12 after 10 minutes.
Imai successfully shot a 3-pointer with 9:21 remaining in the half to pull WU within 16-15. The Falcons answered with a 3-pointer by Lindsey Lonigro as the clock reached 9:00, starting Concordia on a 10-4 run for a 26-19 lead after Gracie McNabb completed the run on a 3-point basket with 5:27 left.
A 3-point shot by Emma Floyd (So., F, Camano Island, WA/Stanwood HS) reduced the deficit to 26-22 and Willamette moved as close as 27-24 on two free throws by Imai with 2:50 to play in the second quarter. The Falcons were in front 32-25 at the break.
The Bearcats started the third quarter with a 9-4 run to cut the margin to 36-34 with 5:02 on the clock. The surge ended with seven consecutive points on a layup by Collins, a 3-pointer from Imai, and a layup by Imai. A bit later, WU was within 40-38 on a rebound and put-back by Imai at the 2:22 mark. Concordia Wisconsin concluded the third quarter with a 45-40 lead.
In the fourth quarter, the Falcons went on a 7-2 surge for a 52-42 lead with 4:40 left in the game. The teams then exchanged several baskets until a free throw by Lonigro gave CUW a 57-48 edge with 42 seconds remaining. Waldal responded with a 3-point basket for the Bearcats to cut the margin to 57-51 with 25 seconds left, but WU wasn't able to get closer.
