By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University battled Montreat College (N.C.) in the first half and trailed by just four points at halftime, but the Cavaliers pulled away in the second half to defeat the Bearcats, 78-61, in the first round of the Capital City/Bruce Henderson Memorial Holiday Tournament on Thanksgiving Day at Cone Field House. In the opening game of the tournament, Vanguard University defeated Northwest Christian University, 86-65.

The first round of the eight-team tournament will conclude later on Thursday with two games at Corban University. College of St. Mary (Neb.) will play Menlo College (Calif.) at 6 p.m. (PST) and Corban will take on Johnson and Wales University (Colo). at 8 p.m. (PST). Willamette and Corban are co-hosting the tournament.

All of the second round games on Friday, Nov. 25 and all of the third round games on Saturday, Nov. 26 will be played at the C.E. Jeffers Sports Center on the Corban campus.

Willamette will take on Northwest Christian in the second round on Friday at 1 p.m. (PST). Vanguard will battle Montreat on Friday at 5 p.m. (PST).

Willamette vs. Montreat

MacKenzie Lamson (So., Wing, Portland, OR/Lincoln HS) topped Willamette with 17 points for the second consecutive game to start the season. She connected on 6 of 11 field goals, hit 2 of 4 three-pointers and made 3 of 4 free throws. She also earned five rebounds, two steals one assist and one blocked shot before fouling out with 8:20 remaining.

Katelyn Nordlien (Fr., Wing, Salem, OR/North Salem HS) added 11 points and a game-high three steals for the Bearcats. Rebecca Josephson (So., Wing, Fair Oaks, Ca/Del Camp HS) contributed nine points. Kaileigh Westermann (Sr., F, Belfair, WA/South Kitsap HS) scored six points and grabbed a team-high six rebounds.

Ebony Battle paced the Cavaliers with 22 points on 7 of 13 field goals. She sank 8 of 10 free throws and grabbed eight rebounds.

Kaitlyn Clontz and Hannah Kolbeck contributed 10 points each for Montreat. Kolbeck also grabbed 10 rebounds, matching teammate Laticia Singleton for game-high honors on the glass. Mykeia Russell supplied the Cavaliers with eight points and six assists.

Willamette held a 6-2 lead 2:16 into the game following a layup by Westermann. The Bearcats were in front 10-7 after Katie Kalugin (Fr., Wing, Woodburn, OR/Woodburn HS) hit a jumper with 14:55 left in the first half.

Montreat claimed a 14-13 advantage when Clontz put in a 3-pointer at the 12:33 mark. The trifecta started a 9-0 run that gave the Cavaliers a 20-13 edge with 9:40 on the clock.

The Bearcats received a 3-pointer from Lamson to end the run, but Montreat answered with a 7-2 offensive surge. Another 3-pointer by Clontz completed the run, giving Montreat a 27-18 lead with 7:14 remaining in the half.

WU fought back, eventually pulling within 28-26 on a layup Nordlien with 2:20 on the clock. Montreat took a 34-30 lead into the intermission.

The Cavaliers opened the second half with an 8-2 run to claim a 42-32 lead. The margin reached 13 points, 46-33 on two free throws by Madison Thomas with 15:51 to go. WU pulled within 47-36 when Westermann hit a layup at the 15:26 mark, but Montreat tallied the next six points to take control of the game.

Montreat earned a 59-38 advantage on the boards, including 19 offensive rebounds. The Cavaliers shot 39.1% for the game (25 of 64) and sank 24 of 34 free throws (70.6%).

Willamette shot 36.1% in the first half (13 of 36), but Montreat held the Bearcats to 28.2% shooting (11 of 39) over the final 20 minutes. WU made 3 of 22 three-pointers and hit 10 of 16 free throws (62.5%).

Vanguard vs. Northwest Christian

In the first game of the tournament, Esther Timmermans of Vanguard scored 18 points and hauled down seven rebounds to lead the Lions past Northwest Christian. Chelsea Alfafara tacked on 17 points and made 5 of 12 three-point shots.

Katie Collins led Northwest Christian with 14 points while Aly Bruns supplied 13 points, six assists and two steals for the Beacons.

The teams shot nearly identical percentage from the field, with Vanguard at 43.0% and Northwest Christian at 43.4%, but the Lions had 79 shots (34 made) compared to just 53 shots (23 made) by the Beacons. Vanguard also gained a 44-33 edge in rebounds and hit 11 of 36 three-pointers (30.6%). Northwest Christian made just 6 of 22 three-pointers (27.3%).

Vanguard broke a 10-10 tie with seven unanswered points and remained in front for the duration of the game. The Beacons pulled within 19-14 on a layup by Bruns with 12:49 left in the first half, but the Lions scored the next five points and eventually took a 33-20 advantage. Northwest Christian reduced the lead to 39-32 with a jumper by Lindsey Shearer at the 2:49 mark.

The Lions ended the half with a 9-2 run, extending their lead to 48-34 at the break.

Vanguard maintained a double-dig margin throughout the second half. The Lions owned a 64-50 advantage with 10:47 to play and then gradually increased the lead to 78-52 with 4:50 on the clock.

Remaining Schedule

Thursday, Nov. 24, 1st Round
6 p.m. (at Corban) - College of St. Mary vs. Menlo
8 p.m. (at Corban) - Corban vs. Johnson and Wales

Friday, Nov. 25, 2nd Round
1 p.m. (at Corban) - Willamette vs. Northwest Christian
3 p.m. (at Corban) - Loser Gm. 3 vs. Loser Gm. 4
5 p.m. (at Corban) - Vanguard vs. Montreat
7 p.m. (at Corban) - Winner Gm. 3 vs. Winner Gm. 4

Saturday, Nov. 26, 3rd Round
12 p.m. (at Corban) - 7th/8th Place Game
2 p.m. (at Corban) - 5th/6th Place Game
4 p.m. (at Corban) - 3rd/4th Place Game
6 p.m. (at Corban) - Championship Game

Games played at Corban on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, will have Live Stats available on the Corban Athletics Website.