By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University defeated Linfield University 66-49 in women's basketball at Cone Field House on Friday, Jan. 5, as the Bearcats built a 21-11 lead in the first quarter and remained in front throughout the Northwest Conference game. Senior guard Carolyn Ho (Parker, CO/Ponderosa HS) helped spark the winning performance by earning 14 points, seven rebounds, seven steals, two assists, and a blocked shot.

It was Ho's seventh game in double figures this season and her seventh game with at least six rebounds. In addition, she recorded seven steals for the fourth time this year. She was 8 for 8 at the free throw line.

Ho was matched on the scoreboard by Kaitlin Imai (So., G, Santa Cruz, CA/Scotts Valley HS), who earned 14 points to go with two assists. Megan River (Sr., G, Tumwater, WA/A.G. West Black Hills HS) added 10 points, seven rebounds, and six assists in her highest-scoring effort since returning to action in early December following an injury. Ashley Collins (Sr., P, Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills HS) chipped in with eight points, while Ava Kitchin (Sr., P, Redmond, OR/Redmond HS) registered six steals.

Elyse Waldal (Jr., F, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS/Linfield University) of WU scored six points against her former teammates. Danielle Morgan (Sr., F, Lompoc, CA/Lompoc HS/California Lutheran Univ.) tallied five points to go with four key rebounds.

For Linfield, Janessa Yniguez scored 12 points and 5 for 9 from the field. Miki Vermeulen finished with 10 points as she went 10 for 10 at the free throw line. Vermeulen also supplied four rebounds, one assist, and one steal. Amelia Solt contributed seven points, while Gillyan Landis finished with six rebounds.

WU scored the first five points of the game on a 3-pointer by Jasmine Shigeno (Sr., G, Brush Prairie, WA/Hockinson HS) and a layup by Ho. The Wildcats reduced the lead to a single point on two occasions, and Linfield trailed by a slim 13-11 margin following a 3-pointer by Yniguez with 3:08 left in the first quarter. The Bearcats completed the quarter with a 9-0 surge that began with a jumper by Waldal and continued with baskets by Kitchin and River, plus two free throws by Ho.

Linfield scored the first basket of the second quarter on a shot by Landis and the Wildcats were within 26-17 with 7:06 to go in the half when Vermeulen sank two free throws. Willamette earned the next eight points to claim a 34-17 lead on two free throws by River at the 3:27 mark. LU hit 7 of 8 free throws in the final two minutes of the half to finish 9 for 11 at the line in the second quarter. Even so, the Bearcats owned a 36-24 edge at halftime.

The Bearcats outscored Linfield 13-11 in the third quarter and 17-14 in the fourth quarter, while leading by double digits throughout the final 20 minutes of action. Linfield managed to pull within 10 points twice in the first three minutes of the second half, including 39-29 on a layup by Yniguez with 7:19 on the clock. The two next points were scored on a layup by Collins to start a 7-0 run by the Bearcats. WU led 49-35 after three quarters.

Morgan hit a 3-pointer for Willamette in the first minute of the fourth quarter to give the Bearcats a 52-35 advantage. Linfield scored seven unanswered points to pull within 52-42 with 6:48 remaining, but couldn't reduce the margin to single digits. The Bearcats earned 14 of the game's final 21 points.

Willamette shot 42.3% on field goals (22 of 52), while holding Linfield to just 28.6% accuracy from the field (12 of 42). Both teams excelled at the free throw line, where the Bearcats were 19 of 24 (79.2%) and the Wildcats went 22 of 25 (88.0%). Each team made three 3-point baskets.

The Bearcats gained a 30-12 scoring advantage in the paint and held a 22-3 edge in points off turnovers. The Willamette bench earned 25 points while Linfield's bench supplied 14 points. Linfield claimed a slim 33-31 rebounding margin.

WU will take on Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, Washington, on Saturday, Jan. 6. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m. PST.