Puget Sound Downs Willamette, 82-59, in Women's Basketball

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Senior guard Sophie Wilson (Sr., G, Port Townsend, WA/Port Townsend HS) scored a career-high 24 points for Willamette University on Saturday, Feb. 2 at Cone Field House, but the University of Puget Sound defeated the Bearcats, 82-59.

Puget Sound built a 51-30 lead in the second half, but WU gained momentum and pulled within 61-50 with 6:54 remaining.

The Loggers countered with a 12-3 run to thwart Willamette's comeback. The run started with a 5-point possession. Amanda Forshay hit a 3-point shot with 6:58 left, and Kelsey McKinney, who was fouled while the ball was in the air, added a pair of free throws.

UPS improved to 12-9 on the season, 5-7 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 1-19 overall, 1-10 in the NWC.

Wilson hit 7 of 11 field goals, including 4 of 7 three-pointers for Willamette, and made 6 of 6 free throws. She also achieved four steals, two rebounds, two assists and one blocked shot. Rebecca Josephson (Jr., G, Fair Oaks, CA/Del Campo HS) tacked on 10 points to go with three assists and a team-high six rebounds.

Jojo DeLong (So., G, Santa Clarita, CA/Canyon HS) supplied the Bearcats with six points, four assists and two steals.

Forshay led four Puget Sound players in double figures, as she scored 15 points. Emily Sheldon contributed 13 points, while McKinnis finished with 12 and Sarah Stewart added 10. Puget Sound outrebounded Willamette, 32-29.

The Loggers held a 11-2 lead just over four minutes into the game. Willamette cut the lead to five points twice, before UPS scored six consecutive points to increase the Loggers' advantage to 23-12 with 8:54 on the clock.

Willamette responded with a 6-0 run of its own, to pull within 23-18. Wilson completed the run by sinking two free throws with 7:04 to go in the half.

A 9-0 run by the Loggers, including a 3-pointer by McKinnis, pushed the margin to double digits at 32-18. Puget Sound owned a 38-22 lead at the end of the first period.

UPS opened the second half with five unanswered points and led by at least 15 points for most of the final stanza. The Loggers were in front 51-30 at the 16:15 mark. Willamette put together a 20-10 run for a strong comeback effort.

The Bearcats cut the deficit to 11 points on two occasions. First, Wilson launched a 3-pointer that pulled WU within 59-48 at the 8:16 mark. Allie Wyszynski added a basket for UPS, and then Josephson sank two free throws for the Bearcats, completing the run and reducing the lead to 61-50 with 6:54 remaining.

Willamette's momentum was reduced just 16 seconds later, when UPS recorded its 5-point possession on Forshay's 3-pointer and two free throws by McKinnis. Emily Sheldon provided Puget Sound with another 3-pointer with 5:53 left, giving the Loggers a 69-50 margin.

UPS connected on 29 of 50 field goals (58.0%), made 6 of 9 three-pointers, and sank 18 of 24 free throws. Willamette was 21 of 56 from the field (37.5%), but made just 9 of 30 shots in the first half before shooting 46.2% over the final 20 minutes. The Bearcats finished 7 of 21 from 3-point range and hit 10 of 12 free throws (83.3%).

The Bearcats will host Pacific Lutheran University at Cone Field House on Friday, Feb. 8. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. (PST).