Portland Defeats Willamette in Women's Basketball Exhibition Game

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. -- University of Portland shot 53.8% from the field on its way to defeating Willamette University, 81-49, in a women's basketball exhibition game at the Chiles Center on Tuesday, Nov. 1. The Pilots, who compete in NCAA Division I, connected on 35 of 65 shots. Willamette, which competes in NCAA Division III, shot 33.3% on the night, as the Bearcats hit 18 of 54 field goal attempts.

Portland finished with three players in double figures. Kaylie Van Loo led he way with 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting and also recorded six assists. Holly Blades scored 12 points and sank 4 of 6 three-pointers. Corissa Turley added 10 points for the Pilots, while going 4 for 4 from the field.

Blade and Hannayh Mattson each registered four steals for Portland. Julie Spencer grabbed a game-high eight rebounds.

Marisa Hamilton (Jr./So., F, Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) topped Willamette's offensive chart with nine points. Madi Andresen (So., C, Forest Grove, OR/Forest Grove HS/Clackamas CC) chipped in eight points and five rebounds. Andresen connected on 3 of 4 field goals. Mary Eckenrode (So., PG, Higley, AZ/Highland HS) earned seven points.

Ashley Evans (So., PG, Canby, OR/Canby HS) supplied the Bearcats with four assists. Andresen and Kylie Towry (Jr./So., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS) each hauled down five rebounds.

Portland held a slim 4-3 lead after Eckenrode sank a 3-pointer for WU with 7:24 left in the first quarter, but Blades hit consecutive 3-pointers to give the Pilots a 10-3 lead. Portland was in front 13-3 at the end of the quarter.

In the second quarter, the Pilots outscored the Bearcats 22-16 to expand the lead to 35-19.

A basket by Ashley Gray and two baskets by Van Loo created a 19-3 advantage early in the quarter. The Bearcats answered with a 7-2 run to cut the deficit to 21-10 on a layup by Whitney Anderson (So., G, Willamina, OR/Willamina HS) with 5:18 on the clock. Portland ended the half with a 14-9 run.

Portland held Willamette to 22.2% shooting (6 of 27) in the first half. The Bearcats improved to 44.4% (12 of 27) in the second half, but couldn't keep pace with the Pilots, who connected on 59.4% of their shots (19 of 32) over the final 20 minutes.

For the game, the Pilots were 5 of 13 on 3-pointers (38.5%) and made 6 of 11 free throws (54.5%). Portland earned a 38-24 rebounding margin. Willamette converted 8 of 32 shots from 3-point range (25.0%).The Bearcats sank 5 of 8 free throws (62.5%).

Willamette will host former players in the Alumni Game on Saturday, Nov. 5 at Cone Field House. Tipoff is set for 12 p.m. (PDT). The Bearcats will open the regular season on Tuesday, Nov. 15 with a home game against Warner Pacific College at 7 p.m. (PST).