By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Elyse Waldal (Jr., F, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS/Linfield University) connected on 6 of 9 field goals, including three 3-pointers, for Willamette University on Monday, Jan. 22, as the Bearcats defeated Lewis & Clark College, 71-58, in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game at the Pamplin Sports Center. Ava Kitchin (Sr., P, Redmond, OR/Redmond HS) added 12 points and six rebounds for WU. The game was scheduled for Friday, Jan. 19, but was postponed due to the weather.

Willamette improved to 10-7 overall, while moving to 7-1 in the NWC. The Bearcats are tied for first place in the conference standings with Pacific University. L&C fell to 3-13 on the season, 1-7 in the NWC.

Waldal has scored in double figures in 11 games this season, including seven games with at least 18 points. Kitchin has earned eight or more points 11 times this season while earning six or more rebounds 12 times.

At Lewis & Clark, Waldal and Kitchin were followed on the scoring chart by Megan River (Sr., G, Tumwater, WA/A.G. West Black Hills HS) and Kaitlin Imai (So., G, Santa Cruz, CA/Scotts Valley HS), each with 11 points for the Bearcats. Carolyn Ho (Sr., G, Parker, CO/Ponderosa HS) led WU with eight rebounds to go along with six points, six assists, and two steals. River was credited with five rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

The Bearcats shot 50.0% from the field (29 of 58), including 61.5% (8 of 13) in the third quarter. Willamette was 5 of 17 on 3-pointers (29.4%) and converted 8 of 14 free throws (57.1%). Willamette held L&C to 31.3% shooting for the game (20 of 64) and limited the Pioneers to 17.4% on 3-pointers (4 of 23). L&C made 14 of 16 free throws (87.5%).

Karli Mukai topped the Pioneers with 17 points, including three 3-point baskets. Charlotte Carroll scored 12 points and led all players with 13 rebounds. Lauryn Frederickson and Jamison Richards each scored eight points and grabbed seven rebounds.

Willamette led throughout the game after scoring the first five points of the contest on a 3-pointer by Waldal and a jumper by River. L&C pulled within 9-8 on a jump shot by Kaela Guidry with 4:11 left in the opening quarter. WU answered with a 6-0 surge for a 15-8 advantage after a basket by River at the 2:25 mark. The Bearcats owned a 21-15 margin at the end of the quarter.

In the second quarter, the Pioneers went on an 8-3 run to cut Willamette's lead to 24-23 on a jumper by Richards with 5:48 to play in the half. Kitchin tallied the next two baskets for a 28-23 edge. Emily Newton of L&C sank two free throws with 4:04 on the clock and neither team scored for about two minutes before Imai blasted through a 3-pointer at the 2:05 mark for a 31-25 lead. Imai's trifecta was scored as the shot clock expired following an in-bounds play with one second on the play clock. River received an assist on the play.

Danielle Morgan (Sr., F, Lompoc, CA/Lompoc HS/California Lutheran Univ.) added a jumper and River tacked on a basket, as the Bearcats grabbed a 35-25 lead with 1:00 left. L&C tallied the final five points of the second quarter on a traditional three-point play by Mukai with 38 seconds on the clock and a steal and layup by Frederickson with 18 seconds to go.

The Bearcats continued to maintain the lead in the second half by outscoring the Pioneers 17-13 in the third quarter and 19-15 in the fourth quarter. Ho earned the first basket of the second half on a layup after River recorded a steal. The fast-break points gave WU a 37-30 advantage.

Lewis & Clark cut the margin to two points at 37-35 following a 3-pointer by Richards with 7:33 to play in the third quarter. The Bearcats replied with a 7-0 run, including baskets by Morgan and Ashley Collins (Sr., P, Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills HS), plus a three-point play by Waldal, for a 44-35 lead at the 5:41 mark. Willamette ended the quarter with a 52-43 lead.

The Pioneers battled within three points twice in the first minutes of the fourth quarter, including 55-52 on a layup by Carroll with 6:38 remaining. L&C never got closer. WU responded to Carroll's basket with a 14-3 run for a 69-55 lead with 1:36 left. Five players scored for WU during the run, including Kitchin, who registered the final six points.

Willamette will host Whitman College on Friday, Jan. 26 in NWC action at Cone Field House. Tipoff is scheduled for 6 p.m. PST.