Willamette Defeats PLU, 63-48, as Carpenter Provides 15 Points, 11 Boards

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

TACOMA, Wash. -- Amanda Carpenter (Grad., G, Beaverton, OR/Sunset HS) scored a game-high 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, while two other Bearcats scored in double figures, as Willamette University downed Pacific Lutheran University, 63-48, in Northwest Conference women's basketball action on Saturday, Jan. 8. Carolyn Ho (So., G, Parker, CO/Ponderosa HS) tallied 13 points and Megan River (So., G, Tumwater, WA/A.G. West Black Hills HS) earned 12 points for the Bearcats. The win at Olson Gymnasium improved Willamette to 7-6 on the season, 2-2 in the NWC. Pacific Lutheran fell to 3-7 overall, 0-3 in the NWC.

Carpenter dominated the defensive glass, as she earned all 11 of her rebounds on defense. At the offensive end of the court, Carpenter hit 6 of 14 field goals, including two 3-point baskets. She also earned three steals, two assists, and one blocked shot.

Ho's 13 points included 5-of-9 shooting from the field. She contributed five assists and three steals. River's 12 points featured a 6-for-6 effort at the free throw line. She also supplied Willamette with seven rebounds, five assists, and one steal.

Claire Bonnet (Jr., G, Boise, ID/Boise HS) scored nine points for Willamette on three 3-point baskets. CarolAnn Edwards (So., F, Spokane, WA/University HS) was credited with nine rebounds and one blocked shot.

For PLU, Ava Edmonds and Maddie Plevyak each scored 12 points. Edmonds also grabbed five boards, while Plevyak led the Lutes with two 3-pointers. Stacie Sparh hauled down seven boards for the Lutes.

Pacific Lutheran committed 21 fouls, which led to Willamette sinking 18 of 25 free throws (72.0%). Edmonds fouled out with 32 seconds left in the game, while Josie Napoli accumulated four fouls and three other PLU players finished with three fouls. Willamette committed just 10 fouls. The Lutes went 5 for 8 (62.5%) at the charity stripe.

Willamette scored the game's first five points on a jumper by Ho and a 3-pointer from Carpenter. A bit later in the opening quarter, the Bearcats led 8-4 on a 3-pointer by Bonnet at the 6:44 mark. The Lutes rallied with a 6-0 run to take a 10-8 advantage on a layup by Edmonds with 3:08 on the clock. PLU ended the quarter with a 12-11 lead.

The Bearcats registered the first five points of the second quarter. The 5-0 run started a 13-3 surge by the Bearcats that resulted in a 24-15 margin following a jumper by River with 3:58 to go in the half. A 3-pointer by Plevyak opened a 9-0 run by the Lutes, who tied the game at 24-24 on a layup by Edmonds with 2:07 left. River provided WU with the last four points of the half on a jumper with 1:39 left and two free throws with 35 seconds remaining. WU led 28-24 at the intermission after outscoring PLU 17-12 during the second quarter.

As in the first two quarters, WU opened the second half with a string of points -- this time a 6-0 run as the Bearcats increased the lead to 10 points at 34-24. Two free throws from Sami Riggs (Jr., G, La Verne, CA/Bonita HS) at the 6:33 mark gave Willamette a 38-26 advantage, and the Bearcats regained a 12-point margin just over a minute later when Carpenter sank a 3-pointer for a 41-29 edge. The Bearcats led 48-34 after Ho put in a fast-break layup with 11 seconds left, but Sparh scored on a layup for the Lutes at the buzzer.

The Bearcats led by double digits throughout the fourth quarter. Willamette's largest lead was 61-43 after River hit two free throws with 1:40 left in the game. Ho scored six of WU's 15 points over the final 10 minutes.

Pacific Lutheran shot just 31.3% for the game (20 of 64), including 3 of 18 (16.7%) from 3-point range. Willamette connected on 20 of 53 field goals for 37.7% and made 5 of 17 three-point attempts (29.4%). The Bearcats achieved a 38-32 rebounding margin.

WU is slated to host George Fox University at Cone Field House on Friday, Jan. 14. Game time in Salem, Oregon, is set for 6 p.m. (PST).