Ho Scores 19 Points as Bearcats Battle Pacific, but Boxers Win 75-64 in 2 OT

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

FOREST GROVE, Ore. -- Carolyn Ho (Sr., G, Parker, CO/Ponderosa HS) of Willamette University and Rilee Price of Pacific University each scored 19 points in a Northwest Conference game at the Stoller Center on Tuesday, Jan. 9, before the Boxers defeated the Bearcats, 75-64 in two overtimes. Ho also contributed seven steals. Willamette almost won in regulation and in the first overtime, but Price hit a 3-pointer with less than four seconds left in both situations to tie the score and keep Pacific in the game.

WU led 49-39 with 4:09 left in the fourth quarter following a driving layup by Megan River (Sr., G, Tumwater, WA/A.G. West Black Hills HS). The Boxers scored the next nine points and cut the margin to 49-48 on a layup by Alexis Intong with 29 seconds to play. Kaitlin Imai (So., G, Santa Cruz, CA/Scotts Valley HS) sank 1 of 2 free throws for the Bearcats four seconds later for a 50-48 lead.

Sydney Gray of Pacific hit two free throws after she was fouled near the top of the key, but Ho put in a driving layup and a foul shot to give WU a 53-50 edge with 10 seconds to go. Price moved around a screen and hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key for the Boxers with about four seconds on the clock. The teams went into overtime tied at 53-53.

Ava Kitchin (Sr., P, Redmond, OR/Redmond HS) of Willamette tallied the initial point in the first overtime as she made the second of two free throws. The lead changed hands six times during the remainder of the five-minute session. The Boxers were on top 59-58 on a layup by Intong with 33 seconds remaining. Elyse Waldal (Jr., F, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS/Linfield University) put WU back in front with a 3-point basket at the 23-second mark. Danielle Morgan (Sr., F, Lompoc, CA/Lompoc HS/California Lutheran Univ.) added 1 of 2 free throws with 17 seconds left for a 62-59 lead. Price sank a 3-point shot from 26 feet with just over two seconds on the clock, forcing the second overtime with the teams knotted at 62-62.

Willamette scored the first points of the second overtime when Imai made a hook shot with 4:43 left. The Boxers tied the game with a turn-around jumper by Brilie Kovaloff, and took the lead for good when Kovaloff hit a floating jump shot with 2:32 to go. The next three possessions for the Bearcats ended with a turnover, a missed jump shot, and an offensive foul. Intong scored layups for Pacific following two of the opportunities to take a 70-64 advantage with 37 seconds remaining. WU had to foul the rest of the way, and the Boxers converted five of six free throws.

The Bearcats led 14-10 and later claimed a 17-13 lead with 57 seconds left in the first quarter on a 3-pointer by Waldal. The Boxers reduced WU's margin to 17-15 at the end of the quarter following a driving layup by Shaade Williams with 11 seconds on the clock. Willamette surged into a 32-21 halftime lead by outscoring Pacific 15-6 in the second quarter. The Bearcats owned a 22-19 lead at the 7:22 mark, then used an 8-0 run to increase their advantage to 30-19 with 4:05 to play in the half. Waldal completed the run with another 3-pointer.

Pacific pulled within 36-28 on a driving layup by Kovaloff with 6:57 remaining in the third quarter, but the Bearcats answered with another 8-0 run. Ho scored four points, while River and Ashley Collins (Sr., P, Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills HS) each tacked on two points, for a 44-28 lead at the 3:03 mark. The Bearcats took a 44-31 lead into the fourth quarter. Ho added a layup for WU with 9:35 to go in regulation before Pacific began its comeback.

For Willamette, Ho was joined in double figures by Waldal with 13 points and Kitchin with 11. Morgan hauled down seven rebounds for the Bearcats, while Waldal and Kitchin each grabbed six boards, and Collins added five. Imai registered seven points and dished out five assists.

Price's 19 points for Pacific led the Boxers. Intong accumulated 14 points and grabbed 10 rebounds. Kovaloff and Emily Holsan each produced 13 points. Kovaloff added six rebounds and five assists, while Holsan supplied five rebounds. Gray achieved eight points, six boards, and four steals.

The Bearcats shot 41.7% for the game (25 of 60), while Pacific was 26 of 69 for 37.7%. The Boxers shot twice as many free throws as the Bearcats, with Pacific hitting 19 of 28 (67.9%) and Willamette sinking 9 of 14 (64.3%). The Boxers held a 43-33 rebounding edge.

Willamette will play its third consecutive road game on Friday, Jan. 12 in Tacoma, Washington, when the Bearcats take on the Loggers at the University of Puget Sound. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m. PST.