Whitman Surges Out to Big Early Lead in Win over Bearcats

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

WALLA WALLA, WASH. -- Whitman College connected on 12 of its first 16 shots to zoom out to a 24-4 lead in the first nine minutes, as the Missionaries started on their way to a 72-41 win over Willamette University in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 19. Whitman shot 53.3% (32 of 60) for the game, including 65.5% in the first half (19 of 29).

The Missionaries improved to 13-3 overall, 6-2 in the NWC. Whitman was ranked 19th in the D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll on Jan. 8, but dropped out of the poll after losing to Whitworth University and George Fox University last week. Willamette fell to 0-16 on the season, 0-7 in the NWC.

Heather Johns topped Whitman with 17 points on 7 of 9 shooting. Sarah Anderegg contributed 16 points, while Mary Madden added 10 points for the Missionaries. Meghan White earned nine points and a game-high eight rebounds.

Mackenzie Lamson (Jr., F, Portland, OR/Lincoln HS) was the only Bearcat to reach double figures, as she finished with 14 points, including 6 for 6 on free throws. Lamson also led the Bearcats with five rebounds.

Whitman built a 16-2 advantage in the opening six minutes of the game behind six points from Anderegg and four points from Johns. Lamson provided Willamette with the next basket, but the Missionaries responded with an 8-0 run.

Anderegg scored all 16 of her points in the first half on 7 of 9 shooting to pace Whitman to a 43-21 halftime margin. She finished the game 7 for 10 from the field. Madden scored eight points in the first half on 4 of 5 attempts. Willamette shot 34.6% in the opening half, as the Bearcats hit 9 of 26 field goals.

Whitman's shooting percentage dropped off to 41.9% (13 of 31) in the second half, while the Missionaries limited Willamette to 5-of-19 shooting (26.3%) over the final 20 minutes. The Bearcats finished at 31.1% overall (14 of 45) from the field.

Willamette cut the deficit to 46-25 with 17:34 left, following a layup by Jo Johnston (Fr., C, Missoula, MT/Florence-Carlton HS), but the Bearcats never got closer.

The Missionaries gained a 39-29 rebounding advantage and forced the Bearcats into 24 turnovers, as Johns and Anderegg each registered five steals. Whitman lost the ball 14 times.

After returning from the weekend road trip to Eastern Washington, Willamette will prepare to host Linfield College on Tuesday, Jan. 22. Game time at Cone Field House is set for 6 p.m. (PST).