McMINNVILLE, Ore. - Linfield secured a solid 61-45 win against Willamette on Saturday night at Ted Wilson Gymnasium. The Wildcats improved their Northwest Conference record to 4-2 while Willamette dropped to 2-4.
Linfield led from start to finish, jumping out to a commanding 17-10 lead to end the first quarter. The Wildcats were aided by strong performances from
Miki Vermeulen, who finished with 18 points, and
Eve Burke, who added 13.
The Wildcats' defense was a key factor in the game, forcing 18 turnovers and scoring 20 points off those miscues. Linfield also dominated in the paint, outscoring Willamette 36-22 in that area. A balanced attack saw
Allie Mead contribute 10 points, five rebounds and six assists, while
Gillyan Landis added 13 points and seven rebounds.
In the first half, Linfield used a strong defensive effort to limit Willamette to just 20 points. The Wildcats' offense showed great efficiency, shooting 46.2% from the field. The second half was more of the same for Linfield as it extended its lead, ballooning it to 12 to start the final period. Willamette opened the fourth quarter on a seven-point run but was unable to maintain the momentum in the loss.
Vermeulen also finished the game with three blocks and showed her all-around versatility. For Willamette, Maya Sanders was the standout performer, scoring 13 points, including 2 three-pointers.
NEXT
Linfield aims to continue its winning streak this weekend in Spokane against Whitworth on Friday at 8 p.m.