Box Score SALEM, Ore. – Jessica Kramer posted 19 points and seven rebounds to lead visiting Whitworth to a 68-48 win over Willamette in the Northwest Conference women's basketball opener for both schools.
The 15th-ranked (WBCA) Pirates used a 24-4 run that spanned the first and second halves to improve to 10-0 overall and 1-0 in the NWC. The Bearcats dropped to 5-5, 0-1.
Kramer hit 8-12 from the field and led the Pirates on the boards. She surpassed her previous career-high of 13 points.
Whitworth broke the game open in the final seven minutes of the first half. After Willamette pulled into a 16-16 tie on a basket by Kelsey Walker, the Pirates closed the half on a 14-2 run. Kramer had the first two baskets of that run.
Whitworth opened the second half on a quick 6-0 run, forcing turnovers on the first three Willamette possessions. Kramer's basket gave the Pirates a 40-20 lead just over two minutes into the second period, capping that long 24-4 advantage.
Marisa Hamilton's three-point play pulled the Bearcats back to within 44-31, but that is as close as they would get. Faith Emerson scored inside to spark an 11-0 Pirate run that extended the Whitworth lead to 55-31. The Bucs eventually led by as many as 25 points (58-33) with just under ten minutes to play.
Lexie Zappone added 15 points and Katara Belton-Sharp scored 13 for the Pirates. Zappone also had four of Whitworth's 11 steals.
The Pirates were able to win comfortably despite their worst three-point shooting night of the season. Whitworth went 1-11 (9.1%) from beyond the arc. They were 25-60 (41.7%) from the field overall. Whitworth forced 21 turnovers, outscoring the Bearcats 25-11 in points off of turnovers.
JoJo DeLong scored 16 points to lead Willamette. Katie Kalugin had nine rebounds.
Whitworth continues its NWC-opening weekend at Lewis & Clark on Saturday night.
