Willamette Rallies from Halftime Deficit to Win at Lewis & Clark, 64-57

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

PORTLAND, ORE. -- Whitney Anderson (So., G, Willamina, OR/Willamina HS) scored 19 points, and Willamette University rallied from a five-point halftime deficit, as the Bearcats defeated Lewis & Clark College, 64-57, in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 23 at the Pamplin Sports Center. Anderson scored 10 points in the first half and earned six points in the fourth quarter.

The Bearcats advanced their record to 11-6 overall, 3-5 in the Northwest Conference. Lewis & Clark dropped to 2-15 on the season, 1-7 in the NWC. Willamette trailed 50-49 with 5:19 remaining in the fourth quarter, but went on a 15-7 run to end the game.

Marisa Hamilton (Jr./So., F, Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) scored 11 points for Willamette to join Anderson in double figures. Kylie Towry (Jr./So., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS) added nine points, nine rebounds and five assists. Alex Wert (Jr., F, Spokane, WA/St. George's HS) led the Bearcats with 11 rebounds.

Miyah Leith topped L&C with 18 points to go along with six rebounds, three assists and two steals. Cianna Ochoco provided the Pioneers with 11 points, while Kaitlin Mathewson tallied 10 points and 11 rebounds.

Willamette led for most of the first quarter, but Lewis & Clark closed the period with a 9-3 run to move in front 15-14. Earlier, WU trailed 4-3, but went on an 8-2 run -- including four points by Towry -- to take an 11-6 advantage.

The Pioneers scored 13 of the first 17 points in the second quarter to expand their lead to 28-18 with 3:51 remaining in the half. Leith provided L&C with a runner in the lane and a fast break layup during the run.

WU countered with eight of the next 11 points to pull within 31-26. Anderson scored six of the points for Willamette, while Wert completed the run with a layup at the 1:21 mark.

Each team added three more points before halftime and the Pioneers took a 34-29 led into the break.

Anderson led Willamette with her 10 first-half points. Leith paced L&C with 12 points at halftime.

The Bearcats cut the lead to 36-33 with 5:22 to go in the third quarter on a layup by Mary Eckenrode (Fr., PG, Higley, AZ/Highland HS). L&C went on a 6-1 run to gain a 41-34 lead on a shot in the key by Cianna Ochoco with 3:16 on the clock.

Willamette cut the marign to one point with six straight points on a layup by Madi Andresen (So., C, Forest Grove, OR/Forest Grove HS), a layup by Anderson, and a rebound and layup by Wert. Sara Hogman scored for L&C with eight seconds left in the third quarter to give the Pioneers a 43-40 lead.

A 7-0 surge by the Bearcats to start the fourth quarter put Willamette in front. WU moved ahead 44-43 on a shot in the lane by Hamilton with 8:56 to go, and took a 47-43 lead on a basket and foul shot by Kelsey Walker (So., G, Westerville, OH/Westerville North HS) with 8:28 remaining.

The Pioneers took a 50-49 lead a the 5:19 mark when Ochoco hit a 3-point basket. Willamette went back in front 12 seconds later on a layup and a foul shot by Anderson. The Bearcats used the three-point play to start a 10-1 run for a 59-51 advantage.

Willamette's run ended with a four-foot jumper by Towry with 1:37 left. L&C scored the next four points on baskets by Kaitlin Mathewson and Natalie Kelly to pull within 59-55 with 47 seconds on the clock.

Anderson sank one free throw with 26.9 seconds left, but Leith hit two free throws about nine seconds later to reduce the lead to 60-57. Anderson made two free throws with 16.3 seconds to go, and Evans tacked on two more free throws in the closing seconds to reach the final score.

WU shot 41.3% from the field (26 of 63), but made just 2 of 16 three-pointers (12.5%). The Bearcats went 10 for 16 at the free throw line and gained a 44-38 rebounding edge.

Lewis & Clark was held to 36.7% shooting for the game (22 of 60), including only 25.8% (8 of 31) in the second half. The Pioneers sank 5  of 18 three-pointers (27.8%) and made 8 of 13 free throws (61.5%).

Willamette will play Pacific Lutheran University on Friday, Jan. 29. Game time in Parkland, Washington, is set for 6 p.m. (PST).