By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Elyse Waldal (Jr., F, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS/Linfield University) and Carolyn Ho (Sr., G, Parker, CO/Ponderosa HS) led Willamette University with strong performances, but Oregon Institute of Technology defeated the Bearcats 66-60 in a non-conference women's basketball game on Friday, Dec. 8 at Cone Field House. Oregon Tech remained undefeated at 8-0. Willamette fell to 4-5 on the season.

Waldal led all players with 20 points and sank four 3-point baskets on eight attempts. She also hauled down seven rebounds. Waldal has scored 18 or more points four times this year, including each of the last three games.

Ho produced 15 points, six rebounds, six assists, and four steals against OIT, while hitting 3 of 4 three-point shots. Ava Kitchin (Sr., P, Redmond, OR/Redmond HS) grabbed seven rebounds. Peyton Gardner (So., G, Bend, OR/Bend HS) scored nine points to go with three assists and two steals.

Olivia Sprague was the top scorer for the Lady Owls with 17 points. She also provided five rebounds and three assists. Gabbie Gascon contributed 12 points and seven boards. Tatum Schmerbach earned 10 points, five rebounds, two assists and two steals. Kennedy Tull also scored 10 points for OIT.

The game was a close battle for most of the evening, before Oregon Tech claimed a 58-46 lead with 4:19 left on a free throw by Elli Kent. WU rallied with a 12-2 run that included two 3-pointers each by Waldal and Ho, as the Bearcats cut the margin to 60-58. Ho sank the final two 3-pointers with 1:55 and 1:01 remaining.

Oregon Tech held on for the win. Schmerbach put through a jump shot for the Lady Owls with 41 seconds left. Ho answered with a driving layup nine seconds later to pull the Bearcats within 62-60. The next basket was scored by Sprague of Oregon Tech on a driving layup with four seconds left. After a timeout, Schmerbach stole a pass and was fouled. Schmerbach added both free throws to create the final score. Ho missed a 3-pointer for Willamette at the buzzer.

The Bearcats trailed 8-2 in the first quarter following a layup by Tull with 6:23 left. Willamette scored 11 of the next 15 points to take a 13-12 advantage when Ho sank a 3-pointer with 3:26 to play. The Lady Owls tallied the final six points of the quarter on a layup by Kendall Fealey and a pair of jump shots by Jozie Ramos.

Gardner opened the second quarter for Willamette by hitting a 3-point shot just a few seconds into the period. Oregon Tech added four points for a 22-16 lead, but the Bearcats linked together a trio of 3-point baskets to move in front 25-22. Emma Floyd (So., F, Camano Island, WA/Stanwood HS) started the string of trifectas. Kaitlin Imai (So., G, Santa Cruz, CA/Scotts Valley HS) chipped with the second 3-pointer before Floyd completed the 9-0 run with 2:59 on the clock.

A bit later, WU held a 30-27 lead on a 3-pointer by Waldal at the 1:39 mark. The Lady Owls closed the half with a 5-1 run and led 32-31 at halftime after Kayley Elliott scored on a layup with three seconds left.

Oregon Tech opened the second half with a 9-0 run for a 40-31 lead with 6:21 remaining in the third quarter. The run included two baskets by Gascon. A layup from HO and a 3-pointer by Gardner reduced the margin to 40-36 with 4:11 to go in the quarter. Oregon Tech entered the fourth quarter with a 47-40 advantage.

The Lady Owls remained in front throughout the fourth quarter, but Willamette's late run almost equalized the score. Waldal registered 12 points and Ho added eight points for the Bearcats in the fourth quarter.

For the game, OIT shot 40.6% from the field (28 of 69). The Lady Owls made just 3 of 16 three-point attempts (18.8%). Oregon Tech was 7 for 10 at the free throw line. Willamette connected on 20 of 51 field goals (39.2%) and sank 12 of 26 shots (46.2%) from behind the arc. WU hit 8 of 12 free throws.

Oregon Tech achieved a 43-31 rebounding edge, including a 17-5 lead in offensive boards. Both teams registered 26 defensive rebounds. Willamette outscored the Lady Owls 18-14 in the second quarter and 20-19 in the fourth quarter.

The Bearcats will return to action on Sunday, Dec. 17 with a game at the University of Portland. Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. PST. It will be an exhibition game for the Bearcats but will count for the Pilots.