Willamette Falls to New Hope Christian, 65-54, in Capital City Classic

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Chelsea Dyson scored a game-high 22 points to lead the Deacons of New Hope Christian College to a 65-54 victory over Willamette University in the third place game at the Capital City Classic on Saturday, Nov. 24 at Corban University. New Hope Christian improved to 6-8 on the season, while Willamette fell to 0-5.

Dyson was 8 of 12 on field goals and made 5 of 6 free throws. She was one of two players in double figures for the Deacons. The other double-digit scorer was Lei Lolohea, who scored 16 points and hauled down 10 rebounds.

Julia Brand (So., F, Kaneohe, HI/Punahou School) scored 14 points and grabbed eight rebounds for Willamette. Katie Kalugin (So., F, Woodburn, OR/Woodburn HS) provided WU with 12 points and another eight rebounds. Mackenzie Lamson (Jr., F, Portland, OR/Lincoln HS) contributed eight points and a team-high nine boards.

Kalugin of Willamette and Lolohea of New Hope Christian were named to the All-Tournament Team.

Also chosen for the All-Tournament Team were Dana Goularte and Lorri Clifford from Western Oregon University, plus Emily Tsugawa and Tara Vanweerdhuizen from Corban. WOU downed Corban, 75-66, in the championship game. Goularte was named the Most Valuable Player.

New Hope Christian shot 48.1% (26 of 54) against Willamette, including 3 of 9 on 3-point shots. The Deacons sank 10 of 19 free throws (52.6%).

Willamette connected on 25.7% of its field goal attempts (19 of 74), while hitting just 2 of 23 three-pointers (8.7%). The Bearcats made 14 of 21 free throws (66.7%). NHCC finished the game with a 50-43 rebounding margin.

The Deacons scored the game's first six points, as two layups by Dyson surrounded a layup by Lei Lolohea. Willamette countered with the next six points on a jumper by Alexa Beeson (Jr., G, Portland, OR/Lincoln HS), a pair of free throw by Brand and a jump shot by Daena Mau (So., G, Aiea, HI/Punahou School).

Dyson added a 3-pointer to give New Hope Christian a 9-6 lead with 14:01 left in the half. The trifecta started a 9-0 run for the Deacons, as NHCC took a 15-6 lead midway through the opening session.

Willamette eventually tied the score 19-19 on a jumper by Ali Babij (Fr., F, Ontario, OR/Ontario HS) with 5:18 remaining in the half. New Hope scored the next five points on a layup by Kyrsha Witherspoon and a 3-pointer basket by Lolohea.

The Bearcats pulled within three points two times later in the half, including 26-23 after a free throw by Lamson with 1:28 on the clock. Witherspoon sank one of two free throws at the 1:16 mark and Lolohea put through a jumper with 30 seconds remaining, as NHCC took a 29-23 halftime lead.

WU made 10 of 14 free throws (71.4%) in the first half as the Bearcats offset 6-of-33 shooting (18.2%) to keep the score close. New Hope Christian connected on 13 of 27 field goals (48.1%) in the first half, but sank just 1 of 8 free throws (12.5%).

Lamson converted 1 of 2 free throws for Willamette to open the scoring in the second half, but the Deacons answered with an 8-0 run for 37-24 advantage with 16:59 remaining. WU battled back within eight points at 39-31 following a 3-pointer by Mau with 12:26 left.

The Deacons added six points for a 45-31 lead at the 9:35 mark. The Bearcats cut the deficit to nine points several times over the next five minutes, but didn't get closer until a jumper by Sophie Wilson (Sr., G, Port Townsend, WA/Port Townsend HS) with 2:01 remaining brought WU within 56-48.

Dyson made two free throws with 1:55 left and Deanna Tupai scored on a layup at the 1:05 mark to allow New Hope to take command of the game. Willamette reduced the margin to eight points twice in the final 35 seconds, before NHCC tallied the final three points.

Willamette will play on Saturday, Dec. 1 in a Northwest Conference game at Pacific University. Game time in Forest Grove, Ore., is set for 6 p.m. (PST).