By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University first-year forward Emma Floyd (Camano Island, WA/Stanwood HS) connected on seven 3-point shots and scored 24 points, as the Bearcats built a 25-point lead in the third quarter and went on to defeat Lewis & Clark College, 69-57, on Friday, Dec. 2 at Cone Field House. It was the Northwest Conference opener for the Bearcats, who improved to 4-3 on the season, 1-0 in the NWC. Lewis & Clark dropped to 0-7 overall, 0-2 in the NWC.
Floyd finished 8 of 17 from the field, including 7 of 15 on 3-point shots. She sank four 3-pointers in the first quarter, then added two in the third quarter, and hit her seventh 3-point shot with 9:15 left in the game. Her seven 3-pointers tied her for third on Willamette's single game list.
The school record of nine 3-pointers in a game was set by Kylie Towry against California Institute of Technology on Nov. 21, 2014 and was matched by Ashley Evans versus Warner Pacific University on Nov. 15, 2016. Floyd's performance is tied with two seven 3-point games by Towry in 2016-17 and 2017-18, and one each by Alexa Zennan in 2009-10, Amy Ulrey in 1994-95, and Kelly Sorenson in 2000-01. A Willamette women's basketball player has made at least six 3-pointers in a game 15 times.
On Friday, the Bearcats held a 20-13 lead after one quarter and extended the margin to 12 points at halftime. A strong third quarter by the Bearcats -- they outscored L&C 26-15 during the period -- increased Willamette's margin to 58-35 entering the fourth quarter.
Floyd led a total of three Willamette players in double figures. Sami Riggs (Sr., G, La Verne, CA/Bonita HS) scored 14 points and hit all seven of her field goal attempts. Ashlyn Ascuena-Mercil (Sr., F, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) contributed 12 points and 12 rebounds, while taking all six of Willamette's free throws during the game and making all six. Megan River (Jr., G, Tumwater, WA/A.G. West Black Hills HS) supplied a game-high seven assists to go with seven boards. Kaitlin Imai (Fy., G, Santa Cruz, CA/Scotts Valley HS) blocked two shots.
Karli Mukai topped L&C with 26 points on 11-of-27 shooting. She was just 3 for 12 from behind the arc, but hit 8 of 15 two-point shots. Charlotte Carroll provided the Pioneers with 14 rebounds, while Natalie Elstone grabbed six boards.
Aided by a pair of 3-point baskets from Floyd, the Bearcats surged out to a 12-4 lead with 4:21 left in the first quarter. Piper Curry scored five unanswered points for the Pioneers on a layup and a 3-point shot to reduce the margin to 12-9. Each team added two points before WU ended the quarter with a 6-2 run, as Floyd hit two more 3-pointers.
Willamette held a modest 24-19 lead after Elstone sank a hook shot for L&C with 5:32 to play in the half, but two 3-pointers by Jasmine Shigeno (Jr., G, Hockinson, WA/Hockinson HS) pushed the lead to 11 points at 30-19 less than a minute later. Neither team scored again until Elstone made 1 of 2 free throws with 2:23 on the clock. WU added a layup by Danielle Morgan (Sr., F, Lompoc, CA/Allan Hancock HS/California Lutheran Univ.) with 59 seconds left for a 32-20 margin. WU limited L&C to 11.1% shooting (2 for 18) in the second quarter.
The Bearcats excelled in the third quarter, shooting 56.3% from the field (9 for 16). Willamette scored 10 of the first 15 points to grab a 42-25 lead following two free throws by Ascuena-Mercil at the 6:42 mark. The margin reached 23 points at 53-30 on a floating jumper by River with 3:57 to go. Mukai answered with a 3-pointer for L&C, but Asuena-Mercil tacked on two free throws and Floyd sank a 3-pointer to give WU a 58-33 edge with 2:51 left in the quarter.
L&C trailed by 23 points at the start of the fourth quarter. A bit later, the Pioneers were behind by a 65-42 score with 6:56 to play, but responded with a 13-2 surge to reduce the lead to 67-55 with 2:00 remaining. Ashley Collins (Jr., P, Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills HS) ended the rally by hitting a jumper for Willamette with 1:27 left.
For the game, WU shot 45.8% from the field (27 of 59), while L&C was held to 31.1% shooting (23 of 74). The Bearcats earned a 42-41 rebounding edge.
Willamette will host George Fox University at Cone Field House on Saturday, Dec. 3. Tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. (PST).
