Strong second half Sends Pacific Lutheran Past Willamette, 69-55

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- Megan Abdo of Pacific Lutheran University led all players with 20 points, as the Lutes defeated Willamette University, 69-55, in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game on Saturday, Dec. 5 at Cone Field House. The Lutes outscored the Bearcats 39-25 in the second half.

With the win, PLU evened its record at 2-2 on the season and 1-1 in the NWC. Willamette dropped to 4-2 overall, including 1-1 in the NWC.

Abdo connected on 7 of 12 field goals, hit 4 of 5 free throws and earned four assists. She scored 12 points in the first half. Samantha Kelleigh provided PLU with 13 points on 5-of-8 shooting, including 11 points in the second half.

Willamette was led by Kylie Towry (Jr./So., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS, who scored 18 points and hit three 3-pointers. Ashley Evans (So., PG, Canby, OR/Canby HS) and Marisa Hamilton (Jr./So., F, Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) each tacked on 11 points for the Bearcats.

Pacific Lutheran forced Willamette into 22 turnovers leading to 21 points for the Lutes. PLU lost the ball 11 times resulting in six points for the Bearcats.

The Lutes opened the first quarter with six unanswered points and surged out to a 14-4 lead, including four points each by Abdo and Anna Hurd. Willamette scored the next four points on a jumper by Towry and a layup by Hamilton to get within six points. PLU led 21-12 at the end of the quarter.

After each team scored one basket to start the second quarter, Willamette recorded nine unanswered points to tie the game at 23-23 with 7:48 left in the half. Hamilton started the run by hitting a trio of free throws following a foul on a 3-point shot. Evans tacked on a 3-pointer and Towry scored on a basket and a foul shot.

Abdo put PLU in front with a jumper at the 5:14 mark. She added a 3-pointer for a 28-23 lead, before WU tallied four straight points on a layup by Madi Andresen (So., F, Forest Grove, OR/Forest Grove HS) and a jumper by Evans.

A jumper by Ionna Price gave the Lutes a 30-27 advantage with 1:45 on the clock. Neither team scored again until Kelsey Walker (So., G, Westerville, OH/Westerville North HS) of Willamette hit a 26-foot, 3-point shot with three seconds left in the half to tie the score.

Whitney Anderson (So., G, Willamina,OR/Willamina HS) put in 1 of 2 free throws just 14 seconds into the second half, and Towry sank a free throw with 8:33 on the clock, as Willamette took a 34-30 lead.

The Lutes scored 10 unanswered points for a 40-34 advantage. Six of the points were recorded by Kelleigh on a pair of 3-pointers.

Willamette regained the lead at 43-42 on a jumper by Hamilton with 2:00 left in the third quarter. PLU scored the final six points of the quarter to take a 48-43 edge into the final period.

A 3-pointer by Abdo and a layup by Heard increased Pacific Lutheran's lead to 53-43 with 7:15 to go. Evans sank a 3-pointer on WU's next possession to reduce the margin to seven points, but the Bearcats never got closer.

PLU shot 45.2% from the field (28 of 62), while Willamette hit 21 of 57 shots (36.8%). WU connected on 8 of 24 three-pointers (33.3%), while the Lutes made 5 of 13 long-range shots (38.5%). The game included just 15 free throw attempts, with PLU going 8 for 9 and the Bearcats sinking 5 of 6.

Willamette will return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 15 in a home game against Southern Virginia University. Game time at Cone Field House is set for 7 p.m. (PST).