Ascuena-Mercil Scores 17 Points for Bearcats in 63-56 Loss at Lewis & Clark

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Ashlyn Ascuena-Mercil (Jr., F, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) scored 17 points for Willamette University, but Lewis & Clark College rallied from a 19-point deficit in the third quarter to defeat the Bearcats, 63-56, in a Northwest Conference game on Friday, Feb. 11 at the Pamplin Sports Center. Ascuena-Mercil was 6 of 10 on field goals, including 3 of 6 on 3-point shots. She also earned two assists, two steals, and a blocked shot.

The teams entered the game with identical records on the season and in the NWC. With the win, L&C improved to 11-11 overall, 6-7 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 10-12 overall, 5-8 in the NWC.

Ascuena-Mercil was joined in double figures for the Bearcats by Amanda Carpenter (Grad., G, Beaverton, OR/Sunset HS), who finished with 11 points and six rebounds. She made two 3-point field goals. Claire Bonnet (Jr., G, Boise, ID/Boise HS) added eight points and two 3-point baskets. Megan River (So., G, Tumwater, WA/A.G. West Black Hills HS) supplied five points, six rebounds, and five assists.

The Pioneers were led by Eva Richards with a game-high 20 points. She hit 8 of 16 field goals, including 4 of 8 from long-range. She scored 15 points in the second half. Delsie Johnson tallied 18 points, nine boards, and four steals. Charlott Carroll produced 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds for L&C. She hauled down 10 rebounds in the second half.

Willamette was in front 14-10 after one quarter and surged out to a 37-22 lead at halftime. The Bearcats increased their advantage to 44-26 on a traditional 3-point play by Carpenter with 7:42 left in the third quarter. Just over three minutes later, Willamette's lead reached 49-30 when Ascuena-Mercil provided another three-point play on a layup and a foul shot with 4:24 on the clock. The Pioneers ended the third quarter with a 13-0 run that included five points from Richards and four by Johnson.

The Bearcats took a 49-43 margin into the fourth period, but were outscored 20-7 over the final 10 minutes. L&C registered the first nine points of the quarter for a 52-49 lead with 7:03 remaining. The surge included a layup by Carroll, a 3-pointer and a layup by Richards, and a layup by Johnson.

CarolAnn Edwards (So., F, Spokane, WA/University HS) scored for WU on a layup at the 6:45 mark to pull the Bearcats within 52-51. A jumper by Natalie Elstone with 5:44 to go, and a basket from Johnson with 3:31 left, gave the Pioneers a 56-51 edge. Willamette got as close as three points twice in the final minutes, including 59-56 following a 3-pointer by Ascuena-Mercil with 1:12 on the clock.

Lewis & Clark tacked on a layup by Johnson at the end of the next shot clock at the 43-second mark for a 61-56 lead. The Bearcats created opportunities to reduce the margin, but missed shots with 32 seconds and 24 seconds left.

The Pioneers shot 42.6% for the game (26 of 61), while Willamette connected on 34.9% of its shots (22 of 63). Both teams shot 33.3% on 3-point shots, with the Bearcats hitting 8 of 24 and L&C sinking 5 of 15. The Pioneers gained a 43-31 rebounding margin.

Willamette built a 12-7 lead with 2:43 left in the first quarter, including two 3-pointers by Ascuena-Mercil and one trifecta by Carpenter. The Bearcats held a 14-8 advantage on a layup from Ascuena-Mercil with 1:33 remaining in the quarter. L&C moved within 14-10 on a layup by Laurel Marchant.

Carpenter gave the Bearcats a 17-10 margin when she hit a 3-pointer 16 seconds into the second quarter. Karli Mukai answered with a 3-pointer for the Pioneers, but Willamette followed up with a 12-4 run to expand the lead to 29-17 at the 4:29 mark. A bit later, the Bearcats added eight of the final 10 points in the half, including a 3-pointer by Bonnet with one second left, for a 37-22 halftime lead.

Willamette will play on the road again on Saturday, Feb. 12 when they travel to Newberg, Oregon, to take on George Fox University. Game time is scheduled for 4 p.m. (PST).