By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Elyse Waldal (Jr., F, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS/Linfield University) put through a trio of 3-point baskets on her way to 13 points, and Kaitlin Imai (So., G, Santa Cruz, CA/Scotts Valley HS) added 12 points and two 3-pointers, as Willamette University pulled away from Whitworth University, 66-47, on Saturday, Jan. 27. In the win at Cone Field House, the Bearcats outscored the Pirates 52-27 over the final three quarters. Willamette held Whitworth to 28.1% shooting (16 of 57) and just 21.9% accuracy on 3-point attempts (7 of 32).

The win improved the Bearcats to 12-7 on the season. Willamette, now 9-1 in the NWC, remained tied with Pacific University for first place in the NWC women's basketball standings. Whitworth dropped to 6-13 overall, 3-7 in the NWC.

Waldal scored 10 of her 13 points in the second half, while Imai earned all 12 of her points in the first half. WU held a 30-25 lead after two quarters, then shot 57.1% (8 of 14) in the third quarter to increase its advantage to 50-34.

Jasmine Shigeno (Sr., G, Brush Prairie, WA/Hockinson HS) provided Willamette with nine points on three 3-point baskets. Danielle Morgan (Sr., F, Lompoc, CA/Lompoc HS/California Lutheran Univ.) contributed eight points and was 4 for 5 at the free throw line. Ava Kitchin (Sr., P, Redmond, OR/Redmond HS), Carolyn Ho (Sr., G, Parker, CO/Ponderosa HS), and Ashley Collins (Sr., P, Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills HS) each scored six points. Ho led WU with four assists, while Waldal registered two steals.

Willamette gained a 39-35 rebounding margin with a balanced effort on the boards. Six Bearcats -- Kitchin, Imai, Ho, Morgan, Shigeno, and Peyton Gardner (So., G, Bend, OR/Bend HS) -- each grabbed four rebounds. Two other WU players earned three rebounds.

For the game, WU shot 44.6% from the field (25 of 56) and made 8 of 16 three-point attempts (50.0%). The Bearcats were 8 of 9 on free throws, while Whitworth connected on 8 of 15 free tosses.

Emma Maxwell led the Pirates with 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, as she made 5 of 7 three-point shots. Kimberley Dewey was credited with 11 points, two assists, and two steals. Mya Edwards latched onto a game-high 124 rebounds. Zalissza Sanfo grabbed six boards and blocked three shots.

Whitworth put up a tremendous battle in the first quarter, as the Pirates built a 20-14 lead. The teams were tied at 12-12 after Morgan sank two free throws for Willamette with 3:42 on the clock. Whitworth scored the next six points on a pair of 3-pointers by Maxwell. Ho added a field goal for Willamette with 1:15 left, and Maxwell scored on a jump shot with 11 seconds to go.

A layup by Alyssa Fitzgerald gave the Pirates a 22-14 advantage early in the second quarter. The Bearcats cut the margin to 22-20 on three baskets by Imai. Whitworth answered with a free throw by Dawson Driggs and a layup by  Cheyenne Rodgers for a five-point lead. Willamette ended the half with a 10-0 run. Four players contributed to the surge, which ended with one 3-pointer each by Shigeno at the 2:27 mark and by Imai with 1:34 left.

The Bearcats grabbed even more momentum by beginning the second half with a 11-2 run that expanded the lead to 41-27 with 5:29 remaining in the third quarter. Five WU players participated in the run, which included a 3-pointer by Shigeno. Whitworth pulled as close as 10 points at 41-31 on a free throw by Rodgers, but the Pirates never reduced the margin to single digits, as the Bearcats maintained a comfortable lead.

Willamette will take on Pacific Lutheran University at Cone Field House on Friday, Feb. 2. Game time is slated for 6 p.m. PST.