Willamette Rolls Past Linfield, 74-52, as Farmer Scores Career-High 22 Points

By Robt McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

McMINNVILLE, Ore. -- Drew Farmer (Sr., PG, Brookings, OR/Brookings-Harbor HS) scored a career-high 22 point and Amanda Carpenter (So., G, Beaverton, OR/Sunset HS) added 17 points, as the Willamette University women's basketball team defeated Linfield College, 74-52, in a Northwest Conference game at Ted Wilson Gym on Saturday, Feb. 2. WU improved to 9-12 overall, 4-8 in the NWC. Linfield fell to 10-11, 6-6 in the NWC.

Farmer and Carpenter each missed only one shot from the field. Farmer connected on 10 of 11 field goals, including her only 3-point attempt. Carpenter hit 6 of 7 shots (5 of 6 on 3's). Their combined 16 of 18 (6 of 7 on 3's) was a key contribution to Willamette's team shooting percentage of 57.4% (31 of 54). The Bearcats shot 45.0% on 3-pointers (9 of 20).

Elizabeth Logsdon (Jr., F, McMinnville, OR/McMinnville HS) supplied the Bearcats with 11 points on 5-of-7 shooting to go along with six boards, three blocked shots and a steal. Britanny Kochenderfer (Sr., G, Klamath Falls, OR/Henley HS/Idaho State Univ.) amassed nine points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and three steals. It was Kochenderfer's 16th game this season with 10 or more rebounds. Kassin Hopkins (Jr., Connell, WA/Connell HS/Bellevue College) supplied eight points, seven boards and six assists.

"It was great to see the team firing on all cylinders tonight," Willamette Head Coach Peg Swadener said. "We played some great defense, and had some big performances on the offensive end. I was proud of everyone's resilience following the tough overtime loss last night."

Two players reached double figures for the Wildcats, as Korey Oleson tallied 13 points and Cameron Reuter earned 11 points. Oleso also hauled down seven caroms and achieved four steals. Cassidy Schutz scored eight points and grabb six boards, while Molly Danielson registered seven points and a team-high nine rebounds.

Willamette has now held 13 opponents to 66 or fewer points this season, including eight opponents who have scored fewer than 60 points. On Saturday, the Wildcats were limited to 31.0% shooting from the field (18 of 58), including just 17.6% (3 of 17) in the first quarter.

Linfield owned a 7-2 advantage following a pair of free throws by Reuter with 7:53 left in the opening quarter. Willamette rallied to take its first lead at 11-10 with 3:51 on the clock after a fast-break jumper iby Farmer. The quarter ended in a 13-13 tie. Nearly all of the second quarter featured great defense by the Bearcats. 

In the second quarter Linfield led twice, including 18-16 when Maggie Smith hit a 3-pointer at the 9:21 mark to counter a 3-pointer by Hopkins. It was the last time the Wildcats led during the game. The rest of the quarter saw Willamette excel on defense. In addition, the Bearcats scored nine unanswered points for a 25-18 advantage. Madison Ballard (Fr., G, Monroe, OR/Monroe HS) earned five points during the run.

A bit later, Reuter sank a jumper for Linfield to reduce the lead to 25-21. WU answered with a 6-0 run on jumpers by Kali Vickery (Sr., G, Glide, OR/Glide HS), Kochenderfer, and Logsdon for a 31-21 edge. The Bearcats led by as many as 11 points at 34-23 after Farmer scored on a basket and a foul shot with 0:39 to go. WU led 34-25 at the break.

The Wildcats got within striking distance soon after the second half started. A 3-pointer by Oleson cut the margin to six points and a jumper by Shutz reduced Willamette's lead to 34-30 at the 8:23 mark. The Bearcats then began a 14-4 run to take control, starting with a 3-pointer by Carpenter. Later, Farmer scored on a jumper, Kochenderfer added a 3-pointer for a 42-32 lead, and Logsdon converted a three-point play. After Oleson scored for Linfield, Farmer completed the run with a 3-pointer as the clock reached 3:21.

The Bearcats closed out the game by shooting 90.0% from the field (9 for 10) in the fourth quarter, while outscoring the Wildcats, 21-12, the same margin WU held in the second quarter. Meanwhile, the Wildcats shot just 26.7% during the final 10 minutes. Willamette finished with a 35-31 rebounding margin. The Bearcats passed the ball well throughout the game and recorded 16 assists on 31 baskets.

Up next for WU is a Northwest Conference home game on Tuesday, Feb. 5 against Pacific University. Tipoff at Cone Field House is set for 6 p.m. (PST).

Big Moment of the Game for Willamette

With 8:05 to go in the third quarter, Amanda Carpenter
sank a 3-point shot to stop a 5-0 run by the Wildcats
and start a 14-4 run by the Bearcats. Carpenter scored
all 17 of her points in the second half. She hit a pair of
3-pointers in the third quarter and added three more in
the fourth quarter. She was 6 of 7 shooting for the game,
including 5 of 6 on 3-point shots.