By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Carolyn Ho (Sr., G, Parker, CO/Ponderosa HS) of Willamette University scored a game-high 21 points, including the first five points in a game-ending 9-2 run, as the Bearcats defeated #22-ranked Whitman College, 67-62, on Friday, Jan. 26 at Cone Field House in a women's basketball game. Willamette trailed by 60-58, before Ho put through a driving layup and a foul shot with 1:20 remaining for a one-point lead. After Whitman moved in front 62-61 on a jumper by Lindsay Drango, Ho sank another layup with 38 seconds left on an assist from Kaitlin Imai (So., G, Santa Cruz, CA/Scotts Valley HS) to give the Bearcats a 63-62 lead.
Whitman lost possession on an offensive foul with 28 seconds left. The Blues also committed a shooting foul with 18 seconds to go, and Imai hit 1 of 2 free throws for a 64-62 edge.
After Korin Baker missed a jump shot for Whitman with 12 seconds on the clock, Ashley Collins (Sr., P, Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills HS) hauled down the rebound for WU and was fouled. Collins made both free throws with 10 seconds remaining to increase the lead to 66-62. Imai connected on 1 of 2 free throws for Willamette with two seconds left.
Willamette advanced its record to 11-7 on the season, 8-1 in the Northwest Conference. The Bearcats are tied with Pacific University (8-1) for first place in the NWC standings. The University of Puget Sound holds third place at 7-3 and Whitman fell into fourth place at 6-3. The Blues are 14-4 overall. Whitman entered the game ranked #22 in the D3hoops.com Women's Top 25 Poll.
HO achieved her 21 points by hitting 9 of 11 field goals with one 3-pointer, and by sinking 2 of 3 free throws. She also recorded five rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Imai was credited with 13 points, a team-high seven rebounds, and a team-high six assists. Collins accumulated 10 points while going 3 for 3 on field goals and 4 for 4 at the free throw line. Elyse Waldal (Jr., F, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS/Linfield University) finished with nine points. Ava Kitchin (Sr., P, Redmond, OR/Redmond HS) produced seven points, three rebounds, two assists, and three steals.
Willamette shot 52.3% from the field (23 of 44), including 58.3% in the fourth quarter (7 of 12). The Bearcats held the Blues to 37.9% shooting (22 of 58). Whitman sank just 6 of 15 field goals (40.0%) in the final quarter. WU converted 15 of 24 free throws and Whitman went 10 for 13 at the free throw line.
For Whitman, Baker led the way with 17 points and 13 rebounds, to go with three assists. Baker was 8 of 16 on field goals. Drango scored 15 points, grabbed seven rebounds, and blocked two shots for the Blues. Christiane Carlisle tallied nine points and topped Whitman with three steals. Carly Martin provided eight points and five assists.
Willamette held the lead for 32 minutes and 35 seconds, but the game was competitive throughout and there were six ties and 10 lead changes.
In the first quarter, WU surged out to a 10-3 lead following a jumper in the lane by Collins with 5:24 left. The Blues pulled within 10-8 on a 3-pointer by Carlisle wiht 4:22 to play. The Bearcats eventually claimed a 14-8 lead, but Whitman reduced the margin to 14-11 at the end of the period.
Whitman outscored the Bearcats 19-17 in the second quarter. Even so, Willamette held a 23-16 edge following a traditional three-point play by Ho with 7:27 remaining. A bit later, Whitman tied the score at 27-27 on a basket and layup from Baker at the 2:51 mark.
Kitchin hit 1 of 2 free throws to give WU a 28-27 lead with 2:42 to play in the half. Avery Neal of Whitman made a 3-pointer with 44 seconds to go, as the Blues grabbed a 30-28 advantage. Jasmine Shigeno (Sr., G, Brush Prairie, WA/Hockinson HS) returned the lead to the Bearcats at 31-30 when she sank a 3-pointer with 30 seconds left.
The Blues gained an 18-16 scoring margin in the third quarter leaving Whitman with a 48-47 lead. WU started the half strong and owned a 41-34 edge on a jumper by Collins with 5:01 on the clock. Whitman took a 48-46 lead at the 41-second mark after a 3-pointer by Neal. Kitchin made 1 of 2 free throws 22 seconds later to pull the Bearcats within one point.
Seven of the game's 10 lead changes took place in the fourth quarter, starting with Willamette gaining a 49-48 edge when Kitchin hit a layup with 9:53 to go. The Blues gained a 51-49 lead on a traditional three-point play by Drango, but a 3-pointer from Imai with 9:09 to go put WU in front 52-51. Ho tacked on a jumper with 7:46 left, to increase the lead to 54-51.
A bit later, the Bearcats led 56-53 before a 7-2 run by the Blues provided Whitman with a 60-58 advantage. Willamette's decisive 9-2 run followed as the Bearcats secured the win.
Willamette will play at home again on Saturday, Jan. 27 when the Bearcats host Whitworth University. Game time at Cone Field House is set for 4 p.m. PST.
