Salem, Ore. - Kaitlin Imai scored 20 points and Elyse Waldal added 17, but it wasn't enough to get the Bearcats past visiting Pacific Lutheran as the team dropped its first home game of 2025 by a score of 68-56.  

PLU scored the opening four points of the game, but Willamette fought back and took a 14-6 lead midway through the first quarter on a three-pointer by Waldal.  Jump shots by Imai and Waldal made the score 18-10 until the Lutes scored the final eight points of the quarter to tie the score at the end of one.

The Lutes continued their run to open up the second quarter by scoring the first five points to take a 23-18 lead.  A Daisy Boling-Schmidt free throw stopped the scoring run, but another five straight points by Pacific Lutheran gave them an 18-1 run and a 28-19 lead at the midpoint of the second quarter.  The Bearcats cut into the lead and a jumper by Waldal at the end of the period made the score 34-28 in favor of PLU.

The score remained close in the second half and a layup by Addie Hiler pulled Willamette within five at 40-35, but another small run by the Lutes pushed the lead back to eleven at 46-35.  The only scoring Willamette could muster in the final five minutes of the third quarter was a long-range jumper by Imai and PLU took a 46-38 lead to the final quarter.

The Bearcats were able to get within five points again at 51-46 thanks to consecutive baskets by Waldal, but those were followed on the next possession by a Pacific Lutheran three-pointer to push the lead back to eight, and the Lutes closed out the game 68-56.

Imai led the Bearcats in scoring with 20 points, followed by Waldal with 17, and Gio Horner chipping in nine.  Daisy Boling-Schmidt led Willamette on the boards with eight and Peyton Gardner handed out four assists while also contributing two steals.

Willamette returns to Northwest Conference action when they travel to play Linfield University on Saturday, January 18th.  Tip-off is scheduled for 6:00 pm.