Pacific Women Rout Willamette, 63-48

Laura Payne led Willamette in scoring with 11 points.

Salem-News.com SPORTS

FOREST GROVE - Pacific University sank 19 of 25 free throws and limited Willamette University to just eight free throw attempts, as the Boxers defeated the Bearcats, 63-48, in a Northwest Conference game Friday night.

Pacific improved its overall record to 6-12, including 2-9 in the NWC.

Willamette, which made just 3 of 8 free throws, fell to 4-16 overall, 2-9 in the NWC.

The Bearcats trailed 31-28 at halftime, after the Boxers shot 55.6% from three-point range in the first half (5 of 9).

Pacific was just 4 of 21 inside the three-point line in the first half, but the five trifecta’s and 8-for-8 shooting at the line allowed the Boxers to lead throughout the opening period.

Willamette, which connected on 12 of 27 shots (44.4%) prior to halftime, received six points and five rebounds from Keilyn Fujioka during the first stanza.

Willamette fell behind 13-8, but cut the lead to 13-12 on a jumper by Kari Woody with 11:18 left in the half.

The Boxers tallied the next seven points to build a 20-12 lead.

WU countered with five straight points to get within 22-20 and eventually cut the lead to a single point, 29-28, after a basket by Maggie Hake.

Pacific scored the final two-points of the half on a jumper by Kristina Stevens with eight second left.

The Boxers held Willamette to 31.3% shooting (10 of 32) from the field in the second half.

Meanwhile, Pacific hit 10 of 22 field goals (45.5%) over the final 20 minutes.

Pacific made just 1 of 5 three-pointers in the second period, but converted 11 of 17 free throws.

Willamette was 0 for 7 on three-pointers and 0 for 2 at the line in the second half.

Woody scored the first basket of the second half for WU, but Pacific recorded the next seven points for a 38-30 advantage with 16:04 remaining.

Willamette also trailed 42-32 at the 14:47 mark, before the Bearcats went on a 10-5 run to get within 47-42 with 7:59 to go.

The Bearcats didn’t score again for three minutes, while Pacific went on a 10-0 run to take command of the game.

Maggie Wilkens ended the scoreless streak with a jumper at the 4:57 mark.

Laura Payne led Willamette in scoring with 11 points. She also provided four rebounds, two assists and a steal.

Fujioka and Woody each contributed eight points. Fujioka also grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds for the Bearcats.

Hake and Wilkens tallied six points apiece.

Trisha Terhar topped the Pacific scoring chart with 16 points. Kami Shigematsu and Sara Harsin hit the nets for 12

points each.

The Boxers outrebounded Willamette, 42-34, led by seven boards apiece from Terhar, Harsin and Stevens.

Terhar made 8 of 15 field goals, while Shigematsu hit 4 of 9 three-pointers.

Willamette will play another NWC road game on Saturday, when the Bearcats travel to Portland, to take on Lewis & Clark College.

Game time is set for 6:00 PM.

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