By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

NEWBERG, Ore. -- Jasmine Shigeno (Sr., G, Brush Prairie, WA/Hockinson HS) scored a career-high 14 points, including four 3-pointers, and the Bearcats built a 38-18 halftime lead, as Willamette University rolled past George Fox University, 71-55, in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game at the Wheeler Sports Complex on Friday, Feb. 16. With the win, Willamette clinched sole possession of the 2023-24 NWC regular season championship.

The Bearcats improved their record to 16-8 overall, including 13-2 in the NWC. Willamette had already clinched the #1 seed for the 2023-24 NWC Women's Basketball Tournament, which will be hosted by the Bearcats on Friday, Feb. 23 and Saturday, Feb. 24 at Cone Field House in Salem, Oregon. George Fox fell to 6-17 on the season, 6-10 in the NWC.

Shigeno's 14 points topped the Bearcats against the Bruins. She was 5 of 7 from the field, while connecting on 4 of 5 three-point attempts. Her previous career high was 12 points at George Fox last season on Jan. 27, 2023. She also sank four 3-pointers in that game, a 69-54 win for the Bearcats.

In Friday's win, Shigeno was joined in double figures by teammates Ashley Collins (Sr., P, Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills HS), and Kaitlin Imai (So., G, Santa Cruz, CA/Scotts Valley HS). Collins tallied 12 points while shooting 5 of 6 on field goals. Imai added 10 points for the Bearcats , including two baskets from 3-point range.

Carolyn Ho (Sr., G, Parker, CO/Ponderosa HS) and Elyse Waldal (Jr., F, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS/Linfield University) each scored nine points for Willamette. Ava Kitchin (Sr., P, Redmond, OR/Redmond HS) topped the Bearcats with six rebounds. Ho contributed five boards, six assists, and two steals. Peyton Gardner (So., G, Bend, OR/Bend HS) registered five assists, while Megan River (Sr., G, Tumwater, WA/A.G. West Black Hills HS) provided four assists and two steals.

Willamette shot 52.9% from both the field (27 of 51) and 3-point range (9 of 17). The Bearcats also earned a 32-28 rebounding margin.

George Fox was led by Ella Roberts with 21 points, as she converted 6 of 14 field goals and 9 of 11 free throws. Roberts also hauled down seven rebounds. Mia Skoro was credited with 10 points, while Jenna Lacey grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Roberts and Erin Yoshitake each finished with three steals for the Bruins.

The Bearcats and Bruins were tied at 6-6 and 12-12 in the first quarter, before the Bearcats ran off seven consecutive points to take a 19-12 lead at the end of the period. WU's surge began with two free throws by Kitchin with 3:35 on the clock. Collins hit a layup on the Bearcats' next possession, and Ho completed the run with a 3-point basket with 1:50 to play.

Willamette added a 3-pointer by Waldal with 7:59 left in the half to increase the offensive run to 10 points, giving the Bearcats a 22-12 lead. Waldal's trifecta started Willamette on its way to a 19-6 scoring edge in the second quarter. After GFU cut the margin to eight points twice, including 24-16 on a layup by Roberts, the Bearcats put together an 8-0 run for a 32-16 advantage at the 4:45 mark. Shigeno opened the run with two 3-point baskets.

A layup by Kitchin with 53 seconds left and a layup from Gardner with just three seconds remaining, gave Willamette its 38-18 halftime margin. The Bearcats led by 18 or more points throughout the second half until the Bruins went on an 11-3 run in the final six minutes of the fourth quarter. WU's largest lead was 26 points at 56-30 on a 3-pointer by Imai with 2:32 to go in the third quarter and at 58-32 on a layup by Shigeno 24 seconds later.

The Bearcats limited George Fox to 31.5% shooting (17 of 54) during the game, including just 21.4% in the first half (6 of 28). The Bruins hit 4 of 23 three-pointers on the night (17.4%). Both teams excelled at the free throw line as WU made 8 of 10 shots (80.0%) and GFU sank 17 of 19 attempts (89.5%).

Up next for Willamette is Senior Day at Cone Field House on Saturday, Feb. 17. Game time is set for 4 p.m. PST as the Bearcats host Lewis & Clark College. The Bearcats will honor Willamette's seniors prior to the game.