SALEM, Ore. – Carolyn Ho made a pair of free throws with 8.4 seconds to play and visiting Whitworth's final three-point attempt was short, allowing Willamette to escape with a 59-58 win over the Pirates in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game on Saturday evening at Cone Field House.
Whitworth (3-4 overall, 0-1 NWC) dropped its conference opener and its three-game winning streak came to an end. The Bearcats improved to 6-4, 1-1.
Whitworth showed rustiness in the opening quarter, committing five turnovers in the first five minutes of the game and seven in the period. Willamette took advantage and led most of the way after a 4-4 tie. Trailing 11-7, the Bucs got a free throw from Megan Dorney and a jumper from Talia Brandner at the end of the period to get within 11-10.
Dorney's short jumper early in the second put the Pirates ahead for the first time in the game, at 14-13 with eight minutes left in the half. But Whitworth only scored four more points over the rest of the quarter. Ashlyn Ascuena-Mercil's three-pointer capped a 9-0 run for the hosts and put Willamette ahead 22-14. The Pirates got within 23-18 at the break after a put-back basket by Genevieve Symons.
Oliva Mayer scored two-and-a-half minutes into the third period to pull Whitworth within 27-25. Willamette responded with an 8-2 run to open a 35-27 advantage on Ho's breakaway layup after a steal. Trailing 37-29, Whitworth got within 37-34 when Talia Brandner got a three-pointer and a layup in the final 70 seconds of the third.
The Bearcats started fast in the fourth and took their largest lead at 43-34 when Ho finished off another fast break layup. Brandner answered with another three to stem the momentum. Whitworth got within one point three times midway through the third before taking its first lead on Quincy McDeid's free throws with 2:34 to go. Willamette answered with consecutive baskets and didn't trail again.
Macey Morales made a three-pointer to pull the Bucs within 57-56 with ten seconds left. After a quick foul, Ho made both free throws. Morales could not find an open teammate at the other end and her shot from 28 feet was well short. Even though McDeid rebounded the ball, her layup at the buzzer could only pull Whitworth within one point.
Brandner led the Pirates with 17 points, while Dorney had 12 points and six rebounds. McDeid added 11 and Morales scored ten. Whitworth finished 22 of 52 (42.3%) from the field, 6-15 (40%) from three-point range. After committing 12 first half turnovers, the Pirates finished the game with 19.
Ava Kitchen led Willamette with 15 points and seven rebounds, while Ho scored ten. The Bearcats had a 37-32 advantage in rebounds and made 25-59 (42.4%) from the field.
Whitworth will host 2nd-ranked Whitman on Tuesday night in the Fieldhouse.
