Jensen Leads Pacific to 67-55 Win over Willamette

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Senior forward Paige Jensen of Pacific University, scored 14 of her 16 points in the second half to help the Boxers secure a 67-55 victory over Willamette University on Friday, Jan. 25 at Cone Field House. The Boxers improved to 12-5 on the season, 5-4 in the NWC, while Willamette dropped to 1-17 overall, 1-8 in the NWC.

Willamette was scoring by Mackenzie Lamson (Jr., F, Portland, OR/Lincoln HS), who finished with 11 points on 4 of 6 field goals and 3 of 4 free throws. Katie Kalugin (So., F, Woodburn, OR/Woodburn HS) tacked on 10 points.

The Bearcats claimed a 41-37 rebounding edge, as Jo Johnston (Fr., C, Missoula, MT/Florence-Carlton HS) brought down 12 boards and Rebecca Josephson (Jr., G, Fair Oaks, CA/Del Campo HS) hauled down 10. Josephson also scored eight points, while Johnston contributed six.

Jensen was one of three Boxers in double figures. Alex Pfefferle provided 15 points, hit 10 of 10 free throws and grabbed 11 rebounds. Erica Coulter chipped in 10 points.

Early in the game, Willamette used a 6-0 run on 3-pointers by Jojo DeLong (So., G, Santa Clarita, CA/Canyon HS) and Sophie Wilson (Sr., G, Port Townsend, WA/Port Townsend HS) to take a 10-4 lead. WU eventually increased the margin to 16-9 on a layup by Johnston with 11:47 left in the half.

Pacific put together a 13-0 run to surge into a 22-16 lead. Kaila Johnson provided the go-ahead basket on a 3-pointer with 9:10 on the clock. Coulter completed the run with a 3-pointer about one minute later, plus a pair of free throws with 7:22 left in the half.

Willamette cut the lead to two points three times, including 26-24 following a jumper by Lamson at the 5:04 mark. The Boxers ended the half with a 9-0 run to take a 35-24 lead into the break.

The run by Pacific reached 11 points when Jensen tacked on a jumper for the first basket of the second half with 18:01 remaining. WU ended an 8:20 scoring drought when Lamson sank a jump shot with 16:46 to go.

WU cut the margin to 39-31 a bit later on a jumper by Lamson. Pacific kept the Bearcats from getting closer, as the Boxers scored the next four points to return to a double-digit lead. The Boxers gained their largest lead at 51-36 on two free throws by Jensen with 9:35 left.

The Bearcats continued to battle, and their efforts allowed them to pull within 59-51 at the 1:43 mark, following two free throws by Josephson. Jensen hit 1 of 2 free throws with 1:07 to go, and Coulter went 1 for 2 at the line with 48 seconds remaining. Pacific sank six more free throws the rest of the way to secure the win.

Willamette finished with more field goals than the Boxers, 21-18, but Pacific made six 3-pointers and converted 25 of 30 free throws (83.3%). Willamette earned three 3-pointers and made 10 of 14 free throws. The Bearcats were 21 of 60 from the field (35.0%), while Pacific was 18 of 53 (34.0%).

In the second half, Pacific shot just 25.9% (7 of 27) from the field, but made 17 of 20 free throws. WU connected on 11 of 32 shots in the second half (34.4%) and hit 8 of 10 free throws.

The Bearcats will return to action on Friday, Feb. 1 at George Fox University. Game time in Newberg, Ore., is scheduled for 6 p.m. (PST).