Willamette Builds Early Lead, as Bearcats Win at Lewis & Clark, 71-51

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Willamette University surged out to a 15-3 lead in the first four minutes of the game and held a 20-point lead entering the final quarter, as the Bearcats defeated Lewis & Clark College, 71-51, on Saturday, Jan. 27 at the Pamplin Sports Center. The Bearcats upped their record to 11-8 on the season, 7-3 in the Northwest Conference, while L&C fell to 10-9 overall and 5-5 in the NWC.

Kylie Towry (Sr., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS) topped all scorers with 21 points in the first three quarters. She did not play in the fourth quarter and Willamette's other starters saw limited action in the final 10 minutes. Towry now has 1,287 points and needs 22 points to tie Jenny Joseph for Willamette's all-time scoring record. Joseph scored 1,309 points from 1993-94 through 1996-97.

Towry also led the Bearcats with eight rebounds against the Pioneers. She was 8 of 11 from the field, including 3 of 5 from 3-point range. Ashley Evans (Sr., PG, Canby, OR/Canby HS), Britanny Kochenderfer (Jr., G, Klamath Falls, OR/Henley HS/Idaho State Univ.), and Drew Farmer (So., PG, Brookings, OR/Brookings-Harbor HS) each scored nine points for Willamette. Gregoire also grabbed six rebounds and registered a game-high five assists. The Bearcats earned a 34-33 rebounding margin and committed just six turnovers.

The Pioneers would have tied Willamette for third place in the NWC standings with a win, but the Bearcats took charge early to keep L&C from gaining momentum.

Lewis & Clark led 3-1 after Jackie Lizarraga made a 3-pointer just 24 seconds into the game, but the Bearcats scored the next 14 points. The offensive surge included four 3-pointers, two by Evans and one each by Towry and Mary Eckenrode (Sr., G, Higley, AZ/Highland HS/Colorado Christian). Elizabeth Logsdon (So., F, McMinnville, OR/McMinnville HS) contributed as well with a layup. Willamette owned a 15-3 advantage with 6:09 left in the first quarter.

Jillian Jin of L&C made one of two free throws at the 5:19 mark to end the Pioneers' scoreless streak. The basket by Jin started an 8-3 run that pulled Lewis & Clark within 18-11 when Miyah Leith hit a layup with 2:57 on the clock. Willamette ended the first quarter with a 25-13 lead after Towry sank a 3-point shot with 24 seconds left.

Two free throws by Leith with 8:37 to go in the second quarter pulled L&C as close as 10 points at 25-15. WU countered with an 11-4 run that extended the lead to 36-19. The run featured at least two points by five different players including a 3-pointer by Kochenderfer to complete the outburst.

A bit later the Bearcats led 40-19 following a fast-break layup by Farmer. Willamette was in front 42-24 at halftime. Towry led all players at the break with 13 points.

L&C scored first to open the third quarter, as Whitney Bruns hit a 3-point shot with 8:40 on the clock. Willamette responded with seven points in a row. Towry began the run with a 3-pointer. Lodgsden tacked on a layup following an inside move, and Towry followed up with a driving layup at the 5:55 mark. Later in the quarter, Towry scored on a layup, was fouled, and hit the free throw to give WU a 54-33 lead with 2:46 left. The Bearcats held a 56-36 advantage entering the fourth quarter.

The fourth period started with seven points in a row for the Bearcats, followed by nine consecutive points for the Pioneers. Farmer converted a layup on a baseline drive for Willamette with 4:10 remaining to stop L&C's run and created a 65-45 lead for the Bearcats. Farmer and Whitney Anderson (Sr., G, Willamina, OR/Willamina HS) each scored four points in the fourth quarter for the Bearcats.

Willamette shot 49.2% from the field (29 fo 59), including 64.3% in the first quarter (9 of 14). The Bearcats connected on 8 of 15 shots from 3-point range (53.3%) and made 5 of 7 free throws (71.4%). L&C connected on 36.5% of its field goals (19 of 52) and made 5 of 17 three-point attempts (29.4%).

The Bearcats will host Linfield College in another NWC matchup on Tuesday, Jan. 30. Game time at Cone Field House is scheduled for 6 p.m. (PST).