River Scores 22 Points as Bearcats Down Pirates, Earn NWC Tournament Berth

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Megan River (Jr., G, Tumwater, WA/A.G. West Black Hills HS) of Willamette University scored 22 points, including four during a key 12-0 run in the fourth quarter, as the Bearcats defeated Whitworth University, 58-52, in a Northwest Conference game on Saturday, Feb. 18 at the Whitworth Fieldhouse. With the win, the Bearcats improved to 14-11 overall and to 9-7 in the NWC, while clinching an NWC Tournament berth. The Bearcats are 13-0 when holding the opponents to fewer than 60 points.

Willamette trailed 45-39 with 8:47 left in the game following a 3-pointer by Quincy McDeid of Whitworth. The Bearcats rallied with 12 unanswered points, starting with driving layups by Carolyn Ho (Jr., G, Parker, CO/Ponderosa HS) and River. Willamette tied the game on a floating jumper from River on a fast-break with 4:48 on the clock. The Bearcats moved in front 47-45 on a layup by Sami Riggs (Sr., G, La Verne, CA/Bonita HS) with 4:02 to play.

Another layup from Riggs and a turn-around jumper by Ho completed the 12-0 run, as the Bearcats led 51-45 with 2:44 to go. The Pirates eventually pulled within 53-50 on a 3-pointer by Mya Edwards at the 1:54 mark, but Riggs scored on a drying layup 21 seconds later. Kaitlin Imai (Fy., G, Santa Cruz, CA/Scotts Valley HS) hit 1 of 2 free throws for the Bearcats with 26 seconds left to give Willamette a 56-50 edge.

Tara Kanashiro of Whitworth drove for a layup with 20 seconds left and Willamette called timeout with a 56-52 advantage. River was double-teamed after receiving the inbound pass. As she attempted to break through the double-team, a held ball was called and the Pirates gained possession. McDeid missed on a long two-point shot with six seconds remaining and Imai rebounded the ball. Imai secured the win by hitting two free throws with five seconds left.

"I'm so happy for this group and what they've accomplished this year," Willamette Head Coach Peg Swadener said. "We always talk about how we want to be playing our best basketball come tournament time, and to see our players elevate their level of play, with today's game and the season on the line, was really fun to be a part of."

Willamette finished fourth in the NWC and will take on co-champion Whitman College in the NWC semifinals on Friday, Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. (PST) in Walla Walla, Washington. Whitman and the University of Puget Sound tied for the NWC regular season title, but Whitman held the tie-breaker and will host the NWC Women's Basketball Tournament. The Blues also will be hosting the NWC Men's Basketball Tournament.

In the other NWC women's semifinal game on Friday, Pacific University (seeded #3) will take on Puget Sound (seeded #2) at 3 p.m. (PST). The NWC Women's Championship game will be played on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 5 p.m. in Walla Walla.

River was 8 for 13 from the field against the Pirates, including 3 for 3 on 3-point shots. She also went 3 for 3 at the free throw line and led Willamette with three steals. Ho added 14 points, four rebounds, and two blocked shots. Riggs accumulated 12 points, three rebounds, and four assists. Danielle Morgan (Sr., F, Lompoc, CA/Allan Hancock HS/California Lutheran Univ.) led the Bearcats with eight rebounds, while Ashlyn Ascuena-Mercil (Sr., F, Boise, ID/Timberline HS) latched onto seven rebounds.

Olivia Meyer topped Whitworth with 13 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. She also recorded three assists and two steals. McDeid provided the Pirates with 10 points. Devyn Cope scored eight points and grabbed six rebounds.

Willamette limited the Pirates to 33.3% on field goal shooting (21 of 63). Meanwhile, the Bearcats shot 43.4% overall (23 of 53), including 57.1% in the first quarter (8 of 14) and 53.3% in the fourth quarter (8 of 15). Each team committed 12 turnovers and created eight steals.

The Bearcats started the scoring with one basket each by Riggs and Ascuena-Mercil, and remained in front for most of the first quarter. Willamette held a 14-9 lead following a driving layup by Danielle Morgan (Sr., F, Lompoc, CA/Allan Hancock HS/California Lutheran Univ.) with 2:35 left. The Pirates tallied the next five points, starting with a 3-pointer by Mayer, to tie the game. River scored on a 3-pointer with seven seconds to play, as Willamette ended the quarter with a 17-14 lead.

Willamette tallied five of the first seven points in a low-scoring second quarter to increase the margin to 22-16 with 5:34 to go in the half. Whitworth pulled within 22-20 on a layup by Devyn Cope at the 3:42 mark before River hit a 3-pointer 32 seconds later to give the Bearcats a five-point edge. Whitworth cut the Willamette lead to 25-24 at halftime.

In the third quarter, there were three ties and three lead changes. The third tie was a 35-35 following a 3-point basket by River. The Pirates earned the next five points, ending with a basket by Edwards, for a 40-35 lead with 1:09 on the clock. Whitworth was in front, 42-39, as the game entered the fourth quarter.