Willamette Builds Big Lead in First Half, Defeats Linfield, 82-64

Sami Riggs dribbles around a defender.
Sami Riggs (Sr., G, La Verne, CA/Bonita HS)
January 31, 2023
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By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University converted 16 of 29 shots (55.2%) in the first half while building a 45-28 lead over Northwest Conference rival Linfield University, and the Bearcats went on to defeat the Wildcats, 82-64, at Cone Field House on Tuesday, Jan. 31. Sami Riggs (Sr., G, La Verne, CA/Bonita HS) scored 19 points, and Megan River (Jr., G, Tumwater, WA/A.G. West Black Hills HS) added 18 points to lead Willamette.

The Bearcats have won six of their last seven games and are now 12-8 on the season, 7-4 in the NWC. Linfield slipped to 8-12 overall, 4-7 in the NWC. The game was part of A Night of Hope, as the Willamette basketball teams supported brain cancer patients in cooperation with Kim's Hope. The Kim's Hope organization was founded in memory of Kim Veenhuis, the mother of former Willamette women's basketball player Amanda Carpenter.

"It was fun watching our offense come together tonight," Willamette Head Coach Peg Swadener said. "We have had to rely heavily on our defense, but tonight was a great offensive night. Our shooting percentage (57% from the field and 45% from the 3-point line) really shows the improvement we have made with our shot selection, and our balanced scoring attack made us difficult to defend tonight."

Willamette held a slim 11-10 lead with 3:07 left in the first quarter following a jumper by Elyse Waldal of Linfield. The Bearcats responded by scoring 11 of the next 14 points to increase their advantage to 22-13 at the end of the quarter. Riggs registered eight points in the first quarter, while River contributed seven points. Linfield committed nine turnovers leading to 11 points for Willamette in the first 10 minutes.

In the second quarter, the Wildcats scored first on a 3-pointer by Eve Burke with 9:24 on the clock, but Kaitlin Imai (Fy., G, Santa Cruz, CA/Scotts Valley HS) hit a 3-pointer for Willamette 26 seconds later to give the Bearcats a 25-16 edge. WU gradually extended the margin, grabbing a 31-18 lead on a fast-break jumper by Riggs at the 6:23 mark and taking a 39-24 advantage on a free throw by River with 2:26 to play.

The Willamette lead stretched to 17 points at 43-26 when River sank two free throws with 1:07 left. Linfield scored on a jumper by Burke with 23 seconds remaining, and Danielle Morgan (Sr., F, Lompoc, CA/Allan Hancock HS/California Lutheran Univ.) put in a layup for WU just before the halftime buzzer.

Linfield played better in the second half, as Willamette held a slim 37-36 margin in scoring over the final 20 minutes. The Bearcats tallied the first six points of the second half, including two baskets by Riggs, to take a 51-28 lead with 8:15 left in the third quarter. The Wildcats countered with 11 unanswered points to start a 14-2 run. Linfield forced five Willamette turnovers during the surge, which ended after Waldal sank 1 of 2 free throws with 3:08 left. Waldal earned five points during the run, which reduced WU's margin to 53-42.

River made a free throw on Willamette's next possession, starting an 8-2 run to close out the quarter. Morgan contributed five points to the run and ended the quarter with a layup and a jump shot in the final 1:10, giving WU a 61-44 advantage.

The teams exchanged baskets throughout the fourth quarter. Willamette owned a 69-50 lead following a 3-pointer by Imai with 7:46 to play. Linfield moved as close as 71-58 after Janessa Yniguez hit a 3-pointer at the 5:51 mark, but the Wildcats never got any closer.

Joining Riggs and River in double figures for the Bearcats were Morgan with 16 points and Carolyn Ho (Jr., G, Parker, CO/Ponderosa HS) with 15 points. Imai supplied nine points.

Riggs was 9 for 15 from the field. She also achieved six rebounds, two assists and two blocked shots. River recorded four of Willamette's 13 steals. Ashlyn Ascuena-Mercil (Sr., F, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) grabbed three blocks, registered three steals, and blocked two shots.

Yniguez and Burke tied for Linfield's scoring lead, each with 11 points on the night. Waldal and Miki Verneulen both scored nine points for the Wildcats. Vermeuin led all players with nine rebounds.

Willamette shot 56.6% overall (30 of 53) and hit 5 of 11 from 3-point range (45.5%). Linfield finished at 49.0% on field goals (25 of 51), but made just 4 of 11 shots (36.4%) from behind the arc. Willamette outscored Linfield 21-10 in points off turnovers and the Bearcats held a 40-30 edge in the paint. WU also gained a 15-6 margin in second-chance points.

The Bearcats will play at Puget Sound on Friday, Feb. 3. Game time in Tacoma, Washington, is scheduled for 6 p.m. (PST).