Women's Basketball: Willamette Falls to Albertson College, 70-54

WU committed 21 turnovers in the first half, but shot a stellar 57.1% (16 of 28) to stay within a single point, 36-35, at the intermission.

Photo: Willamette Athletics

CALDWELL, Idaho - Albertson College shot just 28.8% (23 of 80) against Willamette University in the second round of the Lady Yotes Classic on Saturday, but forced 41 turnovers and defeated the Bearcats, 70-54.

Albertson took 34 more shots than Willamette and earned 22 offensive rebounds to offset the Yotes’ poor shooting.

The Bearcats shot 39.1% overall (18 of 46), but hit just 2 of 18 shots in the second half (11.1%).

Albertson moved to 2-4 on the season. Willamette dropped to 0-5.

WU committed 21 turnovers in the first half and lost the ball 20 times during the second half.

Albertson recorded the win despite missing 57 shots from the field and another nine shots from the line (22 of 31, 71.0%), as Willamette earned a 41-22 rebounding edge at the Yotes’ end of the court.

The Bearcats claimed an overall rebounding edge of 51-46.

Rebekah Wells led Willamette with 19 points. Wells also provided seven rebounds and three assists.

Maggie Wilkens tacked on 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists, while Keilyn Fujioka supplied a team-high 10 rebounds. Tracie Nygaard hauled down nine boards and earned five points.

The Bearcats converted 17 of 28 free throws (60.7%).

Wilkens led the team by going 10 of 12 at the line.

Willamette made just 1 of 6 three-point shots, as Selena Levy hit her only 3-point attempt of the night to record the lone trifecta.

The Yotes connected on just 2 of 9 three-point attempts.

Albertson placed four players in double figures. Christon Vander Esch registered a triple-double, with 21 points, 11 rebounds and 11 steals in 30 minutes played.

Savannah Ames added 16 points, while Denise Hill achieved 15 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Whitney Clark contributed 12 points.

The Yotes committed 21 turnovers and earned 28 steals.

Both teams finished the game with 14 assists.

In the other second round game at the Lady Yotes Classic on Saturday, Eastern Oregon University defeated Westminster College (Utah), 68-64.

EOU was 2-0 in the tournament, while Westminster and Albertson each finished 1-1 and Willamette went 0-2.

The Bearcats return to action on Friday, Dec. 1st, in Willamette’s Northwest Conference opener at the University of Puget Sound.

Tip-off in Tacoma, Wash., is slated for 6:00 PM.

The Bearcats will also take on NWC foe Pacific Lutheran University on Saturday, Dec. 2nd, before returning home.

Game time at PLU is set for 6:00 PM.

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