Feb. 9, 2008

Willamette Defeats Lutes, Sweeps Season Series

Box Score

Trinity Gibbons - 16 points, 16 rebounds

SALEM, ORE. - Laura Payne hit a three-pointer with 1:52 remaining to tie the game, then swished another with 47 seconds left, sending Willamette University to a 60-57 victory over visiting Pacific Lutheran University on Saturday at Cone Field House. With the win, Willamette swept the Northwest Conference season series, 2-0.

Willamette improved to 5-16 overall, including 3-9 in the NWC. The Lutes fell to 11-10 for the season, 4-8 in the NWC. Willamette also defeated PLU on Jan. 12, when the Bearcats scored the final 15 points in a 67-64 triumph.

Willamette trailed 57-54 before Payne's long-range heroics. Payne finished the game with 16 points on 6-for-13 shooting (4-for-8 on threes). Molly Fillion also scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds for the Bearcats, while Alex Zennan chipped in 13 points.

Pacific Lutheran was led by Emily Voorhies who scored 18 points and hauled down eight boards. Trinity Gibbons provided 16 points and 16 rebounds for PLU.

The Lutes missed a jumper with 26 seconds left, a foul shot with 23 seconds to go and a three-pointer with two seconds on the clock. Gibbons grabbed the rebound off Kyle Haag's three-point miss and shot again just after the buzzer sounded.

The first half included two ties and 10 lead changes. Willamette trailed 21-20 after a jumper by Trish Buckingham with 5:03 left in the period, but the Bearcats put together an 8-2 run to claim a 28-23 advantage at the 2:11 mark.

PLU closed the half with a 4-0 run to pull within 28-27 at the break. Buckingham scored on a jumper with 39 seconds left and Trinity Gibbons provided the Lutes with a lengthy two-point basket at the buzzer.

The Bearcats trailed 39-32 several minutes into the second half, but rallied with an 8-0 surge. Payne hit a 3-pointer with 12:45 left to finish the run.

(Courtesy of Willamette Sports Information Office)