Lewis-Clark State Shoots 54.2% to Defeat Bearcats, 76-55

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Led by Annie Kane with 17 points and Tanis Fuller with 11 points, Lewis-Clark State College shot 54.2% from the field to defeat Willamette University, 76-55, in a non-conference women's basketball game on Sunday, Dec. 2 at Cone Field House. The Warriors improved to 2-9 on the season, while the Bearcats dropped to 0-7.

Lewis-Clark State competes in NAIA Division I and the Frontier Conference. Willamette is a member of NCAA Division III and the Northwest Conference.

Kane hit 8 of 10 field goals and Fuller made 7 of 11 shots to set the pace for L-C State. The Warriors connected on 32 of 59 shots overall, including 18 of 31 (58.1%) in the second half, as they expanded a seven-point halftime lead.

Also reaching double figures for L-C State was Brittany Niebergall with 11 points. She connected on 4 of 6 field goals and led the Warriors with three assists.

In addition to leading the Warriors in scoring, Kane grabbed a team-high eight rebounds. Tanis and Ornela Bacchini each hauled down five boards.

Mackenzie Lamson (Jr., F, Portland, OR/Lincoln HS) topped Willamette's scoring chart with 12 points. She was 6 for 6 at the free throw line. Katelyn Nordlien (So., F, Salem, OR/North Salem HS) provided the Bearcats with 11 points on 5 of 11 shooting to go along with six rebounds.

Jojo DeLong (So., G, Santa Clarita, CA/Canyon HS) achieved eight points and four assists, while Sophie Wilson (Sr., G, Port Townsend, WA/Port Townsend HS) scored seven points. Katie Kalugin (So., F, Woodburn, OR/Woodburn HS) registered six points and led the Bearcats with seven rebounds.

The first half featured two ties and six lead changes. After both ties occurred in the first two minutes, Willamette used a 3-pointer by DeLong to take a 7-4 lead. Lewis-Clark gained an 8-7 edge, but Willamette tallied the next four points for an 11-8 advantage.

Following two free throws by Bacchini of L-C State, Mau hit a 3-pointer at the 13:56 mark for a 14-10 lead. Shelby Barnes answered for the Warriors with a 3-pointer 16 seconds later to cut the lead to one. The Bearcats recorded the next five points on a 3-pointer by DeLong and two free throws by Lamson for a 19-13 lead with 12:21 on the clock.

Lewis-Clark State responded with a 7-0 run of its own to claim a 20-19 edge with 8:31 left in the half. Willamette moved back in front, 21-20, on a jumper by Ali Babij (Fr., F, Ontario, OR/Ontario HS), before the Warriors launched an 11-2 run for 31-23 lead over the Bearcats with just over five minutes remaining in the half.

The Warriors led 36-29 at the intermission, and began the second stanza with a 16-6 run to expand the lead to 52-35 with 14:21 left. Fuller tallied eight points during the run, including the first basket and the last basket. Willamette never got closer than 13 points the rest of the way.

LCSC built the margin to 21 points, 64-43, after Niebergall sank two free throws with 7:59 left. WU scored two of the next three baskets, but a 3-pointer by Kelli Rice pushed the lead to 69-47 with 6:06 to go.

Willamette shot 34.4% on field goals during the game (21 of 61), including 4 of 14 on 3-pointers (28.6%). The Bearcats converted 9 of 11 free throws (81.8%). Lewis-Clark State finished the game 8 of 11 at the line (72.7%). The Warriors were 4 of 11 (36.4%) on 3-point attempts.

The Bearcats battled on the boards with the taller Lewis-Clark lineup that included six players at least six feet tall. LCSC held a 20-17 rebounding margin at halftime, but both teams earned 16 rebounds in the second half, as the Warriors claimed a 36-33 overall advantage.

Willamette gained an edge with 12 offensive rebounds, while the Warriors finished with eight offensive boards. Turnovers were nearly even with 16 for Willamette and 15 for LCSC.

Up next for the Bearcats is a road game at New Hope Christian College in Eugene, Ore., on Thursday, Dec. 6. Game time is scheduled for 7 p.m. (PST). The Deacons defeated the Bearcats, 65-54, on Nov. 24 in the third place game of the Capital City Classic at Corban University.