McMINNVILLE, Ore. – Linfield opened the 2023 schedule with a bang, welcoming Willamette to the new year with a 66-51 silencing of the Bearcats Tuesday night at Ted Wilson Gymnasium.
Janessa Yniguez scored 10 of her game-high 14 points in the opening half, leading the Wildcats to a 37-point outburst to go into the break up 10 over their in-state rivals. The 14 points tied the season high for the senior from Santa Cruz, California, matching her scoring output against Warner Pacific on Dec. 10. Yniguez knocked down 5 of 8 from the field, including 2 of 4 from three-point range.
Linfield connected on 61.5 percent of its shots in the first half, making 8 of 13 in each quarter. The Wildcats went 4 for 5 from beyond the arc in the first quarter, accounting for all but two of their baskets from outside. They made 46.2 percent from the field and 40 percent from deep in the 15-point triumph.
Eve Burke continues to provide a boost of energy with significant minutes as a reserve player. The freshman led the Linfield bench with 10 points, marking her third double-digit performance of the season. She tacked on six rebounds to finish tied for the game high with teammate
Gillyan Landis. Landis scored seven points in her 11
th straight start. Burke and
Miki Vermeulen followed Yniguez with two three-pointers of their own.
The Wildcats led by as much as 20 points in the fourth quarter, leading 54-34 with 8:33 left in regulation. The Bearcats cut that lead to single digits with just under two minutes remaining, but multiple trips to the free throw line in the closing seconds put the game on ice for the home team.
The Wildcats turned in one of their best defensive efforts of the season, holding Willamette to 24.6 percent shooting. The Bearcats failed to make a three-pointer for the first time this season, missing all 18 of their attempts.
Carolyn Ho led the Bearcats with 11 points to go with four rebounds, an assist and three steals in 33 minutes. Kaitlin Imai added 10 points off the bench, eight coming from the charity stripe.
NEXT
The Wildcats (6-6, 2-1 NWC) climbed to third place in the Northwest Conference standings with the win. They look to get over the .500 mark when they host Pacific Lutheran (0-11, 0-2 NWC) at 6 p.m. on Friday.