Carpenter Scores Career-High 31 Points in Win over Linfield on Play for ABTA Night

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Amanda Carpenter (Grad., G, Beaverton, OR/Sunset HS) scored a career-high 31 points to lead Willamette University to a 70-50 victory over Linfield University on Play for ABTA night at Cone Field House on Friday, Jan. 21. Carpenter was 7 of 13 from the field and hit 13 of 14 free throws as the Bearcats pulled away for the win. WU led by six points after three quarters, but outscored the Wildcats 23-9 in the fourth quarter, including eight points by Carpenter.

The game was part of Willamette's efforts to raise funds and awareness for the American Brain Tumor Association during Friday's doubleheader versus Linfield in women's and men's basketball. Carpenter was instrumental in setting up the evening as a memorial to her mother, Kim Veenhuis, who died this past August following a battle against brain cancer. Carpenter's father, Todd Veenhuis, spoke at halftime of both games about his wife's battle with cancer. Earlier in the week, a video created by Carpenter about her mother was released on the Willamette Athletics website. By the end of Friday's games, Willamette's Play for ABTA had raised about $10,000.

Carpenter's 31 points tied her for sixth place on Willamette's single-game scoring list, along with Jenny Joseph on Jan. 14, 1994 against Pacific Lutheran University and Kelly Sorenson on Nov. 24, 2000 against Howard Payne University. WU's all-time record is 35 points by Tyan Sanderson versus Lewis & Clark College on Feb. 5, 2000. The previous carer high for Carpenter was 23 points against California Lutheran University on Nov. 22, 2019.

On Friday, Carpenter added seven rebounds, four steals, and one assist for the Bearcats. She was joined in double figures by Megan River (So., G, Tumwater, WA/A.G. West Black Hills HS) and Sami Riggs (Jr., G, La Verne, CA/Bonita HS), both with 14 points, and by Ava Kitchin (So., F, Redmond, OR/Redmond HS) with 10 points. Kitchin earned a double-double, as she also brought down 12 rebounds. River finished with four rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Ashlyn Ascuena-Mercil was provided WU with four rebounds.

Alexis Heald topped Linfield with 14 points. Rowan Cusack supplied the Wildcats with 13 points, eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals, while Emma Schmerbach chipped in 11 points. Gillyan Landis was credited with seven points and six boards.

The Bearcats advanced their record to 8-6 on the season, including 3-2 in the Northwest Conference. Linfield fell to 0-14 overall, 0-6 in the NWC.

Linfield held an early 5-1 lead and grabbed a 90-4 advantage after Heald sank a jump shot with 5:06 left in the opening quarter. Willamette pulled with 11-9 on a 3-pointer by River at the 3:09 mark. Linfield scored next on a driving layup by Schmerbach, but the Bearcats tallied the final 14 points of the quarter for a 23-13 advantage. Willamette added another six points to begin the second quarter for a 29-13 advantage with 5:48 left in the half.

The overall 20-0 run by Willamette included seven points each by Carpenter and River, while Kitchin contributed four points and Riggs scored two points. Linfield ended its scoring drought on a 3-pointer by Schmerbach with 4:47 on the clock to open a 9-1 run, cutting the margin to 30-22 with 1:13 remaining. Riggs hit a jump shot for WU with 58 seconds to go, and the Bearcats took a 32-22 lead into the break.

At the start of the second half, Linfield tacked on a jumper by Landis and a layup by Schmerbach to pull within 32-26. The Bearcats countered with a free throw by Kitchin and a layup from Riggs with 7:19 remaining in the third quarter for a 35-25 lead. Linfield got as close as 35-30 on a jump shot by Heald at the 5:11 mark, but Willamette grabbed a 10-point margin, 42-32, when Carpenter put through a pair of free throws with 4:00 on the clock. WU led 47-41 when the game entered the fourth quarter.

The Wildcats moved within 49-44 on a driving layup from Cusack with 8:50 to go. The Bearcats responded with a layup by Kitchin, two free throws by Kitchin, and a free throw by Carpenter to increased the lead to 54-44 with 7:01 left. A bit later, Willamette went on an 8-0 offensive surge to take a 64-47 advantage on a 3-pointer by Carpenter with 2:58 to play.

Willamette shot 39.6% for the game (21 of 53), while holding Linfield to 35.7% shooting (20 of 56) from the field. The Bearcats hit 6 of 15 from 3-point range (40.0%) and made 22 of 28 free throws (78.6%). Linfield was 2 of 15 (13.3%) on long-range shots. The Wildcats sank 8 of 14 free throws (57.1%).

Up next for the Bearcats is an NWC game at Pacific University on Saturday, Jan. 22. Game time in Forest Grove, Oregon, is scheduled for 4 p.m. (PST).