Ascuena-Mercil Grabs 19 Rebounds for Bearcats in 64-51 Loss to George Fox

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Ashlyn Ascuena-Mercil (Sr., F, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) of Willamette University grabbed a game-high 19 rebounds on Saturday, Dec. 3, but the Bearcats fell to George Fox University, 64-51, in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game at Cone Field House. Sami Riggs (Sr., G, La Verne, CA/Bonita HS) tallied a game-high 18 points for the Bearcats, who moved to 4-4 overall, 1-1 in the NWC. George Fox improved to 2-3, 1-1 in the NWC.

Ascuena-Mercil's 19 boards tied her for second on WU's all-time list for rebounds in a game. She added 12 points to complete a double-double, while contributing four blocked shots, three assists, and a steal.

Willamette's record for rebounds in a game is 20, set by Molly Fillion on Nov. 17, 2007 against Haverford College (Pa.). Prior to Saturday's game, there were three other 19-rebound games for the Bearcats: Britanny Kochenderfer versus Pomona-Pitzer Colleges (Calif.) on Nov. 20, 2018; Fillion versus Corban University on Nov. 27, 2007; and Fillion against Concordia University (Ore.) on Dec. 29, 2008.

On Saturday, Riggs and Ascuena-Mercil were the only Bearcats in double figures for scoring. Megan River (Jr., G, Tumwater, WA/A.G. West Black Hills HS) provided six points, five assists, and four boards. Kaitlin Imai (Fy., G, Santa Cruz, CA/Scotts Valley HS) also scored six points.

George Fox was led by Jenna Lacey with 16 points. Alyssa Wells added 12 points, while Claire Hinds hauled down nine rebounds. Wells was 4 for 8 on field goals, all from 3-point range.

The Bruins registered the first eight points of the game and held a 15-3 lead after Wells sank a 3-pointer with 3:21 left in the opening quarter. Willamette tacked on a layup by Ascuena-Mercil, a jump shot by Imai, and a layup from Riggs with three seconds left to cut the margin to 15-9 at the end of the period.

WU trailed 20-11 with 7:36 remaining in the second quarter following a layup by Ella Roberts of GFU. The Bearcats rallied with an 11-0 run to take a 22-20 lead with 4:07 to play. Ashley Collins (Jr., P, Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills HS) concluded the run with a pair of layups. Alexa Borter tied the score for the Bruins on a layup at the 53-second mark. Wells gave George a 25-22 halftime lead when she hit a 3-point shot with 12 seconds left. Ascuena-Mercil already had 10 rebounds for the Bearcats at the break.

A jumper by Carolyn Ho (Jr., G, Parker, CO/Ponderosa HS), a traditional three-point play from Riggs, and a pair of free throws by River gave Willamette a 29-25 advantage with 8:13 to go in the third quarter. The score was tied at 31-31 with 6:15 on the clock. Riggs scored next to give WU a 33-31 edge, and neither team led by more than two points until a basket by Roberts provided GFU with a 41-37 lead with 2:36 remaining . The Bruins held a 45-38 margin at the start of the fourth quarter.

George Fox extended the lead to 51-38 on back-to-back three-point baskets by Wells during a six-second span ending with 8:55 on the clock. Wells was fouled on the first trifecta, but missed the free throw. Borter grabbed the rebound and passed to Wells for the second 3-pointer. The Bruins led by at least 11 points for the rest of the game, despite a trio of 3-pointers for the Bearcats -- one each by Ascuena-Mercil, Imai, and Riggs.

Willamette shot 31.3% for the game (20 of 64) and made just 3 of 22 three-pointers (13.6%). The Bearcats were 8 for 13 (61.5%) at the free throw line. George Fox hit 38.1% of its field goals (24 of 63) and sank 6 of 23 shots from behind the arc (26.1%). The Bruins converted 10 of 14 free throws, led by Lacey, who finished 8 for 8.

The Bearcats will play their next game on Saturday, Dec. 10 at Western Oregon University. Game time in Monmouth, Oregon, is slated for 4 p.m. (PST).