Willamette 60, Pacific Lutheran 57

PLU closed the half with a 4-0 run to pull within 28-27 at the break.

Salem-News.com Sports

SALEM, Ore. - Laura Payne (Sr., G, Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS) hit a 3-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, Feb. 9 at Cone Field House. With the win, Willamette swept the season series 2-0 with its NWC rivals.

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

Willamette trailed 57-54 before Payne's long-range heroics. Payne finished the game with 16 points on 6 of 13 shooting (4 of 8 on threes). Molly Fillion (Jr., Silverton, OR/Silverton HS/Linn-Benton CC) also scored 16 points for the Bearcats. Filliion also grabbed 11 rebounds. 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 3-pointer with two seconds on the clock. Gibbons grabbed the rebound of Kyle Haag's three-pointer 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.

Molly Fillion opened the run with a pair of free throws. Erin Barclay (Fr., Snohomish, WA/Bothell HS) added a jumper with 4:39 on the clock and Tracie Nygaard (Sr., F, Knappa, OR/Knappa HS) tacked on a free throw with 3:07 left in the half. Zennan completed the offensive surge with 3-pointer with 2:11 remaining.

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.

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