Whitman Limits Willamette's Offense, as Blues Defeat Bearcats

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Strong defense by Whitman College held Willamette University to 22.6% shooting, while the Blues shot 44.6% to down the Bearcats, 75-33, in a Northwest Conference game on Saturday, Dec. 1 at the Sherwood Center. Whitman advanced its record to 5-2 overall, 2-0 in the NWC. Willamette dropped to 3-5 overall, 0-2 in the NWC.

Britanny Kochenderfer (Sr., G, Klamath Falls, OR/Henley HS/Idaho State Univ.) scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds for the Bearcats. She connected on 7 of 15 field goals, including 2 of 4 shots from 3-point range. Kochenderfer is averaging 13.9 points and 11.6 rebounds per game.

Amanda Carpenter (So., G, Beaverton, OR/Sunset HS) and Kali Vickery (Sr., G, Glide, OR/Glide HS) each provided WU with five points. Vickery also registered three rebounds, two blocked shots and a steal.

Two players finished with double-doubles for Whitman. Makana Stone contributed 20 points and 12 rebounds for the Blues, while hitting 9 of 15 field goals. Maegan Martin tacked on 10 points to go along with 10 rebounds and three assists. Kaylie McCracken tallied 11 points, seven boards and three steals. Mady Brudett provided nine points, and Taylor Chambers earned five assists.

Willamette sank 12 of 53 field goal attempts, while converting 4 of 19 three-point shots (21.1%). Whitman put through 33 of 74 shots and made 5 of 21 on three-pointers (23.8%). The Blues attained a 56-27 rebounding margin.

Martin scored the game's first two baskets, helping the Blues take a 6-2 lead. Kochenderfer hit a basket, was fouled, and added a free throw with 4:23 left in the first quarter to pull the Bearcats within 6-5. Whitman owned a slim 9-6 lead after Elizabeth Logsdon (Jr., F, McMinnville, OR/McMinnville HS) of Willamette sank 1 of 2 free throws at the 3:01 mark. Stone added a layup for the Blues with 1:53 remaining for an 11-6 edge.

Stone's basket started a string of 21 unanswered points for the Blues, as Whitman took command with a 30-6 lead just under six minutes into the second quarter. Willamette ended a scoreless streak of 9:20 when Kochenderfer drilled a 3-pointer with 3:41 to go in the half. The Bearcats pulled as close as 32-13 on a layup by Kochenderfer about two minutes later, but Whitman extended its lead to 37-13 at halftime.

The Bearcats opened the second half with a layup by Logsdon and a 3-pointer by Carpenter, but the Blues answered with eight consecutive points to prevent a rally. The Blues gained a slim 16-12 scoring margin in the third quarter.

Whitman forced Willamette into 14 turnovers during the game and held the Bearcats without any second-chance points. The Blues scored 25 points off turnovers, while Willamette recorded five points on seven turnovers by Whitman.

Up next for the Bearcats is a match-up with crosstown rival Corban College on Thursday, Dec. 6. Game time on the Corban campus in Salem, Oregon, is set for 6 p.m. (PST).