Willamette Shoots 50.9%, Hits 11 Three-Pointers to Down Beacons, 73-57

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- Kylie Towry (Jr./So., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS) and Ashley Evans (So., PG, Canby, OR/Canby HS) each scored 14 points, and Willamette University shot 50.9% from the field, as the Bearcats defeated Northwest Christian University (Ore.), 73-57, on Saturday, Jan. 2. The win at Cone Field House advanced Willamette to 8-2 on the season. Northwest Christian fell to 7-6.

Willamette connected on 28 of 55 field goals during the game, including 11 of 22 three-point shots. Towry made 5 of 10 field goals, including 2 for 3 from 3-point range. Evans was 4 for 7 from the field and hit 3 of 5 three-pointers.

Towry added four rebounds, five assists and two steals, while Evans provided two rebounds and four assists. Marisa Hamilton (Jr./So., F, Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) contributed 12 points and four rebounds. Alex Wert (Jr., F, Spokane, WA/St. George's HS) topped the Bearcats with six boards and earned four assists.

Overall, Willamette earned 19 assists on 28 baskets. The Bearcats also recorded a 32-30 rebounding margin.

Northwest Christian's 6'4" center Hanna Mack led the Beacons with 13 points on 5 of 6 field goals and 3 for 3 at the line. She grabbed seven rebounds to tie for game-high honors with teammate Demarea Caples.

Niki Duncan tallied 11 points for NCU. Andrea Gloss and Sami Pitts each registered 10 points.

The score was tied 6-6 after Mack sank two free throws for the Beacons with 3:40 left in the first quarter. Willamette put in the next five points on a layup by Hamilton and a 3-pointer by Evans. NCU pulled within 11-8 on a jumper by Pitts, but WU ended the quarter with a 14-10 lead.

Mack recorded the opening basket of the second quarter to get within two points. Willamette countered with a 3-pointer by Kelsey Walker (So., G, Westerville, OH/Westerville North HS) and a layup by Madi Andresen (So., F, Forest Grove, OR/Forest Grove HS) for a 19-12 advantage at the 7:24 mark.

The baskets by Walker and Andresen started a 9-2 run for the Bearcats, who held a 26-14 lead after Mary Eckenrode (So., PG, Higley, AZ/Highland HS) scored on a layup with 4:32 left.

A bit later, Evans hit a 3-pointer with 1:44 remaining to give WU a 29-18 margin. NCU reduced the lead to six points on a 3-pointer from Caples plus a steal and layup by Duncan with 53 seconds on the clock. Evans sank another 3-pointer with 25 seconds left to give the Bearcats a 32-23 halftime lead.

Northwest Christian made a charge at the start of the third quarter, reducing the deficit to 40-36 when Duncan was successful on a 3-point shot to complete a 13-8 run with 5:22 to go. On Willamette's next possession, Hamilton drilled a 3-pointer on an assist from Wert.

Hamilton put in another 3-pointer at the 5:01 mark, as WU took a 46-36 advantage. The lead reached 12 points at 48-36 on a jumper by Whitney Anderson (So., G, Willamina, OR/Willamina HS) with just under four minutes left.

The Beacons pulled within seven points two times later in the third period, but the Bearcats took a 55-45 advantage into the fourth quarter.

WU maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way by outscoring the Beacons 18-12. The Bearcats opened the final period with a 7-2 run, as Towry scored all seven points on a layup, a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws. Willamette led 62-47 with 7:23 remaining.

For the game, Willamette recorded a 27-10 advantage in bench scoring and owned a slim 28-26 edge in points scored in the paint. The Bearcats attained a 16-11 margin in points off turnovers.

Up next for Willamette is a home game against New Hope Christian University (Ore.) on Monday, Jan. 4. Tipoff at Cone Field House is scheduled for 7 p.m. (PST).