Bearcats Blast Haverford with 77-43 Win

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

PORTLAND, ORE. -- Led by an impressive double-double of 20 points and 20 rebounds from Molly Fillion (Jr., G, Silverton, OR/Silverton HS/Linn-Benton CC), the Willamette University Bearcats routed the Haverford College Fords, 77-43, on Saturday, Nov. 17, in the second round of the Bon Appetit Classic at Lewis & Clark College. The Bearcats outscored Haverford, 49-20, over the final 20 minutes, to extend a 28-23 halftime lead.

Willamette evened its record at 1-1 on the season. Haverford dropped to 0-2 overall.

Fillion was one of two Bearcats with a double-double. Senior guard Laura Payne (Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS) also hit double digits in two categories, as she provided Willamette with 18 points and 10 rebounds.

Also in double figures for the 'Cats were Jenny Fillion (Jr., G, Silverton, OR/Silverton HS/Linn-Benton CC), with 11 points, and Tracy Nygaard (Sr., F, Knappa, OR/Knappa HS), with 10 points. Both contributed to WU's lopsided 56-32 rebounding edge, as Fillion contributed eight boards and Nygaard earned seven.

Haverford received 14 points from Sara Cram. Erica Juliano added 13 points for the Fords. Cram also led HC with five rebounds and two blocked shots.

Willamette held Haverford to 28.8% shooting during the game (17 of 59), including just 25.0% in the second half (7 of 28). Haverford stayed close to the Bearcats at halftime by connecting on 32.3% of its first-half shots, while holding WU to 30.6%. The Bearcats created an offensive explosion in the second half, as Willamette converted 56.3% of its field goals (18 of 32) and outscored the Fords by 29 points.

A 10-0 run ignited Willamette's second half surge. WU's 15-point margin was reduced to 11 points by the Fords three times, including 48-37 with 11:20 remaining. Willamette took full command of the game with another 10-0 run for a 58-37 advantage with 9:03 left.

The 10 unanswered points started a 16-2 run, as the Bearcats extended their lead to 64-39 at the 7:30 mark. Willamette's largest lead was the final 34-point margin

Molly Filliion scored 14 of her points in the second half, after earning 14 of her rebounds in the first 20 minutes. She finished 9 of 15 on field goals and was 2 for 2 at the line. The Bearcats made just 1 of 8 three-pointers, but hit 18 of 23 free throws (78.3%).

Haverford was 2 for 13 on three-point attempts. The Fords connected on 7 of 12 shots at the charity stripe.

HC also blocked 10 shots, five in each half. Kathleen Abels led the Fords with three blocked shots. Willamette blocked eight shots, with two each by Jenny Fillion, Payne and Alex Zennan (Fr., G, Sammamish, WA/Eastlake HS).

The Fords led early in the game at 8-2 and 10-4. Haverford also held a 16-6 lead following a jumper by Juliano with 10:21 left in the half. WU eventually tied the game at 18-18 on a basket by Molly Fillion at the 4:49 mark. Then took the lead for good at 20-18, on a jumper by Payne. WU outscored Haverford 22-7 over the final 10 minutes of the half.

In the other second round game at the Bon Appetit Classic, Menlo College defeated Lewis & Clark, 54-43. Menlo won the tournament with a 2-0 record.

Willamette will return to action on Tuesday, Nov. 20, at Warner Pacific College in Portland, Ore. Game time is slated for 7 p.m. (PST). The Bearcats will play their home opener on Saturday, Nov. 24 at 7 p.m. (PST) against Concordia University, also from Portland.