Lewis & Clark Uses Defense and Rebounding to Control Bearcats

By John Lind, Assistant Athletics Communications Director

PORTLAND, ORE. -- Lewis & Clark College, ranked #10 in the USA Today Division III Top 25, limited Willamette University to 29.3% shooting, and achieved a 57-29 rebounding margin, as the Pioneers defeated the Bearcats, 78-47, in Northwest Conference action on Saturday, Feb. 9.

L&C improved to 21-2 overall, 12-2 in the NWC, while Willamette dropped to 2-10 on the season, 2-11 in the conference.

The Pioneers were led by Katie Anderson, who scored 21 points off the bench. Anderson connected on 7 of 8 field goals, including 4 for 4 on 3-pointers, and went 3 for 3 at the free throw line. She entered Saturday's game averaging 10.8 points per contest.

Kristina Williams added 12 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for Lewis & Clark. Taylor Wang matched Williams with 10 boards for the Pioneers.

Katie Kalugin (So., F, Woodburn, OR/Woodburn HS) was the only Bearcat to reach double figures, as she tallied 10 points and hit 4 of 7 field goals. She also hauled down four rebounds.

Mackenzie Lamson (Jr., Portland, OR/Lincoln HS) scored eight points for the Bearcats, while JoJo DeLong (So., G, Santa Clarita, CA/Canyon HS) registered five points and four assists.

Lewis & Clark scored the first four points of the game in the opening 36 seconds of action. Willamette countered with eight consecutive points for an 8-4 lead with 15:00 left in the half. DeLong began the run with a 3-pointer and completed the run by sinking a jump shot.

WU held an 11-6 advantage after Kalugin put in a layup on a fast break, was fouled and converted the free throw with 13:56 on the clock.

The Pioneers moved in front 12-6 on consecutive 3-pointers by Anderson. L&C used the pair of trifectas to start a 9-0 run for a 15-11 lead at the 9:16 mark.

After Willamette pulled within a basket at 15-13 and 17-15, the Pioneers rattled off another nine points in a row to establish a 26-15 margin.

Lewis & Clark held a 30-21 lead with 3:10 remaining in the half, and then closed the opening period on a 12-2 run. Anderson started the run with her fourth 3-pointer of the game. L&C held a 42-23 lead at the intermission.

Willamette was unable to threaten the Pioneers in the second half, as Lewis & Clark led by at least 20 points for most of the period.

The Bearcats hit just 17 of 58 field goals and made 4 of 17 three-pointers (23.5%) during the game. WU sank 81.8% of its free throws, but went to the line just 11 times, while putting through nine attempts.

Lewis & Clark was 27 of 67 (40.3%) on shots from the field, including 7 of 17 (41.2%) on 3-pointers. The Pioneers were successful on 7 of 10 three-point shots in the first half, but went 0 for 7 over the final 20 minutes. At the free throw line, L&C was 17 of 24 (70.8%).

The Pioneers grabbed 21 offensive rebounds, while limiting WU to just six offensive boards.

Up next for Willamette is a Northwest Conference home game on Friday, Feb. 15, when Whitman College will meet the Bearcats at Cone Field House. Game time is set for 6 p.m. (PST).