By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
NEWBERG, Ore. -- Senior guard Sami Riggs (La Verne, CA/Bonita HS) of Willamette University scored 18 points and grabbed seven rebounds to help the Bearcats defeat George Fox University, 69-54, in a Northwest Conference game on Friday, Jan. 27 at Miller Gymnasium. Riggs was one of four WU players in double figures, as Megan River (Jr., G, Tumwater, WA/A.G. West Black Hills HS) finished with 15 points, Jasmine Shigeno (Jr., G, Hockinson, WA/Hockinson HS) added 12, and Carolyn Ho (Jr., G, Parker, CO/Ponderosa HS) scored 11. Shigeno hit four 3-point shots, as the Bearcats made nine 3-pointers overall.
The win moved Willamette to 10-8 on the season, including 5-4 in the NWC. The Bearcats are in fourth place in the NWC standings, one-and-a-half games behind third place Pacific University (7-3) and one game in front of George Fox, Linfield University, and Whitworth University, who share a three-way tie for fifth place at 4-5. Willamette is 10-0 when the Bearcats hold opponents to fewer than 60 points. The Bearcats have won four of their last five games, losing only to NWC leader Whitman College on Jan. 21.
At GFU, the Bearcats led 13-8 after the first quarter, and increased their lead by outscoring the Bruins 22-14 in the second quarter on 58.3% shooting and 22-12 in the third quarter on 61.5% shooting. During the two middle quarters, the Bearcats outsored GFU 44-26. Willamette took a 23-point advantage into the fourth quarter.
"I continue to be pleased with the growth this team is showing from week to week," Willamette Head Women's Basketball Coach Peg Swadener said. "We have been focusing on getting off to better starts, and we did a good job of that tonight. George Fox is a very talented team, so to be able to take control early allowed us to relax a little and just play with a lot of confidence."
Riggs tied her career highs for scoring and rebounding. She has scored 18 points five times in her career, including both games against George Fox this season. Riggs has hauled down seven rebounds six times during her career, including three times in 2019-20 and twice in 2021-22. Willamette's win on Friday avenged a 64-51 loss to the Bruins on Dec. 3.
In the rematch, George Fox was led by Erin Yoshitake with 12 points, including a trio of 3-point baskets. Alyssa Wells tallied 11 points, while Jenna Lacey scored 10 points and produced seven rebounds. Alexa Borter topped the Bruins with nine boards. George Fox is now 7-11 on the season.
River, in addition to scoring 15 points for Willamette, provided the Bearcats with seven rebounds, four assists and two steals. Kaitlin Imai (Fy., G, Santa Cruz, CA/Scotts Valley HS) also contributed four assists, while Ho accumulated three steals.
Both teams shot just over 21% in the first quarter, but Willamette hit 4-for-4 free throws and was just a bit stronger on defense to claim a five-point lead. The Bearcats scored the game's first seven points, including a 3-pointer by River. The Bruins eventually pulled within 11-8 on a layup by Wells, but Imai tacked on two free throws for Willamette with 1:12 left for the final points of the quarter.
A 7-2 run at the start of the second quarter enabled GFU to tie the game at 15-15 with 7:20 on the clock. Shigeno, who scored all four of her 3-point baskets in the second quarter, broke the tie with a 3-pointer just 24 seconds after the Bruins tied the score. Lacey added a jumper for George Fox before the Bearcats went on a 9-2 run to grab a 27-19 edge following back-to-back trifectas by Shigeno.
After GFU cut the margin to five points on a 3-pointer by Emma Reed, WU closed the half with an 8-0 surge. The run included two free throws by River, followed by one 3-pointer each by Imai and Ho, giving the Bearcats a 35-22 margin at halftime. Willamette held a double-digit lead throughout the third quarter and went on a 15-4 outburst in the final seven minutes to expand the Bearcats' advantage to 57-34. Riggs hit two 3-pointers while scoring nine points during the run.
Ho scored the first points of the fourth quarter for the Bearcats on a fast-break layup with 9:14 left, as the lead expanded to 25 points. The Bruins gradually reduced the margin to 65-49 with 3:02 to go, but the Bearcats remained in control.
For the game, WU shot 45.3% from the field (24 of 53), including 9 of 22 on 3-pointers (40.9%). The Bearcats went 12 for 13 at the free throw line (92.3%). George Fox was limited to 34.4% shooting (21 of 61), with the Bruins connecting on just 6 of 28 three-point attempts (21.4%).
Willamette will take on Lewis & Clark College in Portland, Oregon, on Saturday, Jan. 28. Game time at the Pamplin Sports Center is set for 4 p.m. (PST).
