Loggers Hold Off Bearcats in Northwest Conference Game, 64-59

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- Emily Sheldon and Samone Jackson each scored 14 points for University of Puget Sound to lead the Loggers to a 64-59 win over Willamette University at Cone Field House on Saturday, Feb. 6. Puget Sound improved to 14-7 overall, 9-3 in the Northwest Conference. The Bearcats fell to 12-9, 4-8 in the NWC.

Sheldon and Jackson were joined in double figures by Alex Noren, who finished with 10 points and six rebounds. Allie Wyszynski added eight points and a team-high eight boards. In addition to tying for the team's scoring lead, Sheldon contributed six rebounds, five assists and two steals.

Marisa Hamilton (Jr./So., F, Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) led Willamette with 14 points, while Ashley Evans (So., PG, Canby, OR/Canby HS) scored 13. Kylie Towry (Jr./So., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS) finished close to a triple-double with 10 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. Alex Wert (Jr., F, Spokane, WA/St. George's HS) supplied eight points and eight boards.

Willamette trailed by eight points, 56-48, after Noren scored on a layup, was fouled, and hit the free throw with 4:31 remaining. The Bearcats scored the next seven points to reduce the margin to 56-55. Hamilton put in a jumper with 4:11 left, Towry added a layup with 1:48 to go, and Towry tacked on a 3-pointer with 1:07 on the clock.

Jackson scored an was fouled with 44.5 second left. She sank the free throw, extending the Loggers' margin to 59-55. Hamilton cut the lead to two points with a layup at the 32-second mark, but Jackson converted two free throws two seconds later. The Loggers made 3 of 4 free throws the rest of the way to close out the win.

Willamette took a 10-4 lead just over five minutes into the game on a 3-point basket by Whitney Anderson (So., G, Willamina, OR/Willamina HS). The Loggers tallied the next five points, but the Bearcats stayed in front and held a 15-11 advantage after Wert sank two free throws with 1:28 on the clock.

UPS claimed the lead with a 4-0 run to end the quarter. Noren put through a jump shot with 1:15 left, and Jackson hit a 3-pointer with 14 seconds remaining.

A jumper by Hamilton 19 seconds into the second period gave WU a 17-16 edge on the scoreboard, but Puget Sound earned the next six points. The Loggers eventually took a 26-19 lead on a jumper by Wyszynski at the 4:15 mark. Puget Sound led 30-27 at halftime.

The Bearcats fell behind by six points early in the third quarter, but pulled within 35-33 on a jumper by Evans with 5:52 to go. Puget Sound held a 45-37 lead after Sheldon scored on a layup with 3:10 left. WU registered the next six points on a layup by Hamilton, plus jumpers by Towry and Hamilton, to cut the margin to 45-43.

Puget Sound regained a bit of breathing room at the start of the final quarter, as a 6-1 surge expanded the margin to seven points at 51-44. Willamette responded with the next four points, but UPS followed with a 5-0 run.

Willamette shot 51.9% in the second half (14 of 27) to finish at 39.0% overall (23 of 59). The Bearcats hit 6 of 20 three-pointers, led by Evans with three long-range baskets. The Loggers hit 26 of 58 shots (44.8%), including 3 of 9 from 3-point range.

UPS achieved a 39-32 rebounding edge. Willamette gained an 11-3 margin in points off turnovers. The Loggers lost the ball 14 times, while WU committed 10 turnovers.

The Bearcats will play NWC rival Whitman College on Friday, Feb. 12 in Walla Walla, Washington. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. (PST).