PORTLAND, Ore. – The Lewis & Clark Pioneers hosted the Willamette Bearcats Friday night at Pamplin Sports Center for their second to last home game of the season, winning 63-56. The Pioneers snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Bearcats that dates back to February 19, 2016. 

Despite a 15-point deficit coming out of halftime, the Pioneers were able to hold the Bearcats to just 19 points in the second half, compared to 37 in the first. The Bearcats went 7-11 from the three-point line in the first half but were held to just one three-pointer in the second. A key scoring drought for Willamette started in the third quarter and saw a huge momentum shift for the Pioneers when they were able to close a 19-point gap to six points. They pulled ahead in the fourth with 7:34 left to play and never relinquished the lead. 

Delsie Johnson and Jamison Richards led the scoring efforts for the Pioneers in the second half, combining for 33 points in the final two quarters, and 42 on the night. Charlotte Carroll earned her second double-double on the season with 10 points and 13 rebounds.

Ashlyn Ascuena-Mercil scored 17 points for the Bearcats and added six rebounds. 

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Key Moments

Down 49-30 in the middle of the third quarter, Ishara Sorensen scored a lay-up out of a media timeout to start a 22-0 scoring run for the Pioneers that also included baskets from Carroll, Richards, and Johnson. Carroll made a last-minute score with four seconds left in the quarter to shrink the Bearcats lead to six going into the fourth. 

Coming into the fourth quarter, Richards hit two consecutive buckets, including a reverse layup, giving the Pioneers their first lead of the night. An illegal screen by the Bearcats after a media timeout resulted in an easy layup for Johnson off a clean pass by Richards to put the Pioneers up 52-49 with 7:04 in the fourth quarter.

Deeper Look

• Peyton Romo returned to play after an injury
• The Pioneers had their best field goal percentage of the season tonight against the Bearcats (42.6)
• Johnson reached 200 rebounds on the season 
• Laurel Marchant scored four points in the first half
• Karli Mukai leads the team with 55 assists on the season
• Gabby Beltran saw 17 minutes of play and added three points and one steal
• She leads the team in steals with 38 on the season
• The Pioneers scored 11 points off turnovers to the Bearcats' five

Looking Ahead

The Pioneers face off against Pacific tomorrow night for Senior Night where they will honor eight graduating players. Tipoff is at 4 p.m.