Lewis & Clark Pulls Away From Willamette For 60-46 NWC Victory

Pioneers hold Willamette to 27.9% shooting.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

PORTLAND - The Lewis & Clark University Pioneers used a 17-8 run over the final 7:09 of the first half to pull away from visiting Willamette University, then maintained the lead in the second half, to down the Bearcats, 60-46, in Northwest Conference women’s basketball action on Saturday.

Lewis & Clark moved to 14-7 overall and 7-5 in NWC play, while Willamette dropped to 4-17 overall, 2-10 in the NWC.

Willamette held a 22-20 lead before the Pioneers went on their run to take a 37-28 halftime lead.

Lewis & Clark shot 46.4% (13 of 28) from the field in the first half, while the Bearcats shot just 33.3% (10 of 30).

Samantha Jonasson led the Pioneers with nine points in the first half, while Maggie Hake came off the bench to lead WU with six points.

The Bearcats managed to pull within seven points at 37-30 during the opening minutes of the second half, but that was as close as they would get.

Lewis & Clark extended its led to as many as 20 points, before securing the 14-point win.

Willamette wound up shooting only 27.9% (17 of 61) from the field during the game, while Lewis & Clark finished at 36.8% (21 of 57).

The Pioneers also held a 43-37 rebounding advantage.

The Pioneers’ Allison Farr led all players with 16 points, with 10 of those coming in the second half.

Jonasson finished with 11 points and seven rebounds, while Crystal Castle added eight points for Lewis & Clark.

Keilyn Fujioka and Maggie Wilkens led Willamette with eight points apiece. Fujioka also pulled down a game-high eight rebounds.

Willamette may be without the services of Fujioka for a while, as she injured her right knee late in the game.

With just 11 seconds remaining, Fujioka attempted to steal the ball from the Pioneers’ Sara Kettler.

Fujioka ended up with the ball, but Kettler unintentionally landed on Fujioka’s right knee.

Fujioka was on the ground in pain for several minutes before being helped off the floor.

The extent of her injury was not immediately known.

The Bearcats return home to host George Fox University next Friday at Cone Field House in Salem.

Tip-off is set for 6:00 PM.

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