By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communication
TACOMA, Wash. -- Elyse Waldal (Jr., F, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS/Linfield University) registered 19 points to lead four players in double figures, and Willamette University made 14 of 28 three-point shots, as the Bearcats rolled past #10-ranked Trinity University (Texas), 89-66, on Tuesday, Dec. 19 at Memorial Fieldhouse on the campus of the University of Puget Sound. The Bearcats shot 57.6% from the field. Willamette evened its record at 5-5 on the season, while Trinity fell to 8-2.
The win was Willamette's second victory over a Top 25 team this season. WU defeated Whitman College, 66-61, on Dec. 2 when the Blues were ranked #17 in the D3hoops.com Women's Top 25 Poll. Trinity's previous loss was to #14-ranked Hardin-Simmons University (Texas), 92-88 in overtime on Nov. 25, when the Tigers were ranked #4 and HSU was ranked #7.
Willamette took control in the first quarter by outscoring the Tigers 25-10, as the Bearcats sank 9 of 17 field goals (52.9%), including 7 of 12 on 3-point shots (58.3%). The high-scoring start featured Waldal going 4 for 6 on 3's while Jasmine Shigeno (Jr., G) was 3 for 6 from long-range. Waldal earned 14 points and Shigeno added nine during the quarter.
The Tigers held an 8-6 lead after Kylie Minter put through a jump shot with 6:54 left in the quarter. Willamette answered with an 11-0 run that ended with eight consecutive points by Waldal for a 17-8 margin at the 2:35 mark . A bit later, WU ended the quarter with an 8-0 run. Trinity made just 4 of 18 field goals (22.2%) in the first 10 minutes, including 2 for 11 (18.2%) on three-pointers.
A strong second quarter allowed the Bearcats to claim a 23-13 scoring margin while increasing their lead to 48-23 at halftime. Even so, after Willamette scored the first two points of the quarter, the Tigers went on a 9-0 run to cut the margin to 27-19 on a layup by Jamie Reude with 6:40 to play in the half.
It was the last time Trinity trailed by single digits. Willamette pulled away with 13 consecutive points for a 40-19 lead. The run featured seven points by Kaitlin Imai (So., Santa Cruz, CA/Scotts Valley HS) and included two points each from Ashley Collins (Sr., P, Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills HS), Ava Kitchin (Sr., P, Redmond, OR/Redmond HS), and Shigeno.
WU scored the first four points of the second half to take a 52-23 advantage and remained in front by more than 25 points for most of the final two quarters.
Waldal recorded her 19 points against Trinity by hitting 7 of 11 field goals and 5 of 7 three-pointers. She also provided six rebounds, four assists, and two steals. Waldal has scored 18 or more points five times this season.
On Tuesday, other Bearcats in double figures were Emma Floyd (So., F, Camano Island, WA/Stanwood HS), Imai, and Shigeno. Floyd earned 15 points and was 3 for 4 on 3-pointers. Imai tallied 12 points, while Shigeno finished with 11 points.
Peyton Gardner (So., G, Bend, OR/Bend HS) supplied eight assists and Imai aded six assists. Kitchin led WU with nine rebounds, while Carolyn Ho (Sr., G, Parker, CO/Ponderosa HS) matched Waldal with six boards. Ho was credited with four points, three assists, and a game-high three steals.
The top scorer for Trinity was Josie Napoli, who earned 13 points to go with three assists. Skye O'Rourke produced 10 points. Ruede and Bailey Timmons each scored seven points.
Willamette connected on 34 of 59 field goals (57.6%) and sank 7 of 9 free throws. The Bearcats held the Tigers to 35.5% on field goals (27 of 76), including 26.5% on 3-pointers (9 of 34). WU achieved a 40-36 rebounding margin.
The Bearcats will host nearby opponent Western Oregon University on Saturday, Dec. 30 at Cone Field House. Tipoff is scheduled for 2 p.m. PST.
