Bearcats Have Strong Showing in Exhibition at Corban

By Charlie McGuire, Athletics Communications Assistant

SALEM, Ore. – The Willamette University women's basketball team opened the 2023-24 campaign with an exhibition game at neighboring Corban University on Saturday, October 28. The Bearcats turned in a strong performance but were unable to overcome a big first quarter from the Warriors to suffer a 64-57 setback.

The Bearcats took an early lead before Lizzy Bennett knocked down back-to-back three-pointers to put the hosts in front, 10-6, with just under eight minutes remaining in the first quarter. Corban closed out the period with a 14-4 run to lead 26-13, holding a 16-5 advantage on the boards.

Willamette outscored the Warriors, 5-4, in the opening five minutes of the second quarter. Carolyn Ho (Sr., G, Parker, CO/Ponderosa HS) traded three-pointers with Maddie Godwin to make the score 33-21 at the 4:28 mark. Kaitlin Imai (So., G, Santa Cruz, CA/Scotts Valley HS) converted a pair of free throws and Elyse Waldal (So., F, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS) buried a triple to pull the Bearcats within seven.

The Warriors doubled-up the visitors down the stretch, 8-4, to take a 41-30 lead into halftime. Corban continued to dominate on the glass, outrebounding Willamette, 26-16, including 12 on the offensive end. Ho led the Bearcats with a game-high 13 points while Bennett and Godwin combined for 20 points and five rebounds to lead Corban.

Jasmine Shigeno (Sr., G, Brush Prairie, WA/Hockinson HS) opened the second half with back-to-back three-pointers and the Bearcats put together a 12-3 run to cut the deficit to just a field-goal with 3:43 to play in the third. Corban tallied the final four points of the period to lead 48-42, heading into the final quarter.

Corban sandwiched a pair of three-pointers around a Waldal lay-up to stretch the lead to 56-46, with 6:23 to play. Waldal added two field-goals and Imai converted a three-point play to pull Willamette within six, 59-53, with 21 seconds on the clock. Corban sank five of six free throws to counter a pair of scores from Ho for the final of 64-57.

Ho led all scorers with 19 points, adding six rebounds and a pair of assists. Waldal was just shy of a double-double with 18 points and nine rebounds while Imai finished with five points, five assists and three rebounds. Senior Ava Kitchin (Sr., P, Redmond, OR/Redmond HS) added six points and six rebounds.

Corban had four players in double-figures, led by Godwin with 14. Bennett and Autumn Agnew each added 13 points while Kirsten Koehnke tallied 11 points and 13 rebounds.

Corban starts the season 1-0 while the exhibition will not affect the Bearcats' record. Willamette returns home to face Bushnell University on Wednesday, November 8. Opening tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 pm PST.