PORTLAND, Ore.—Lewis & Clark College women's basketball used an 8-0 run to get within six points to start the fourth quarter, but visiting Willamette University answered with an 11-0 run to earn a 63-43 Northwest Conference victory on Saturday at Pamplin Sports Gymnasium.
THE BASICS
Willamette 63, Lewis & Clark 43
(Lewis & Clark 2-17, NWC 1-9)
(Willamette 11-8, NWC 6-4)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Saturday's game was characterized by a series of runs for either side. Lewis & Clark got off to an early 9-4 lead, only for the visitors to answer with a 15-0 run bridging the first two quarters to take the lead for good (19-9). The Pioneers would keep the game within striking distance over the next three quarters and would cut the deficit to six in the second, as few as four in the third and down to six early in the fourth. Every time though, the Bearcats came through with an immediate answer to earn their fifth win in their past six games.
Charlotte Carroll led all players in scoring and rebounds. The Pioneers junior finished with 14 points and 15 rebounds in just over 30 minutes of action. She went 5-16 from the field, hit four of her five free throw attempts and pulled down eight of the Pioneers 19 offensive rebounds.
Fellow junior
Natalie Elstone nearly joined her with a double-double. Elstone posted 12 points, nine rebounds, five steals and two assists while never leaving the floor.
Sophomore
Piper Curry chipped in seven points and two steals and
Karli Mukai and
Gabby Beltran accounted for five points apiece.
Danielle Morgan led the visitors with 13 points on 6-7 shooting and posted seven rebounds. The Bearcats had no one finish with more than 13 points but seven players totaled six or more points. Megan River and Carolyn Ho each joined Morgan in double-figures with 11 points apiece.
Lewis & Clark got off to one of their best starts of the season. Beltran scored on the Pios opening possession and after a Willamette 3-pointer, Lewis & Clark went on a 7-1 run to grab a 9-4 edge. Elstone (one free throw), Carroll and Curry all made baskets during the flurry.
After Willamette went on a 15-0 run that spanned five minutes and nine seconds of game time, Lewis & Clark used a late second quarter flurry to get back within six. This time it was a 5-0 spurt for the Pioneers with Elstone and Carroll combining for all five to make it 21-15 with 2:26 to go before halftime. Willamette extended their lead to a first-half 12 points but Beltran drained a 3-pointer from the quarter just before half to make it 27-18 Bearcats.
The Pios carried that momentum into the second half. After Willamette scored on their opening possession of the half, Lewis & Clark went on a 7-0 run to cut the Bearcats edge to 29-25. Carroll hit a pair of baskets and Elstone hit a 3-pointer to get the Pioneers back within four with 7:42 to go in the quarter.
Willamette extended their lead to as many as 15 late in the quarter and went into the fourth with a 43-29 advantage.
Lewis & Clark wouldn't go away though. The Pios scored on four of their first five possessions of the fourth quarter to make it 43-37 Willamette with 7:42 to go. Carroll, Curry, Elstone and Mukai all scored to contribute to the 8-0 flurry.
Unfortunately for the Pioneers, the Bearcats had an answer. Willamette went on an 11-0 run over the next four minutes to grab a 54-37 lead with under four minutes to play.
BY THE NUMBERS
- Carroll posted her third double-double in the past four games and is averaging 14.5 points and 12.25 rebounds during that span.
- Lewis & Clark forced 16 Willamette turnovers and earned a 17-12 edge in points off turnovers.
- The Pios used their 19-14 lead in offensive rebounds to post a 22-14 advantage in second-chance points.
- Willamette held a 19-0 lead in bench points.
- Carroll sits second in the NWC in overall rebound per game (10.1) and is third in conference games (9.4 rebounds per contest). She is also 12th in the NWC in scoring in conference games (10.5 points per).
- Elstone's five steals in a single-game are tied for the most by a Pioneer this season.
WHO'S NEXT
The Pioneers will continue on their season-high, four-game homestand when they host defending NWC Champion Whitman College on Friday at 6 p.m.
