MCMINNVILLE, Ore. --- Linfield women's basketball (11-2, 4-0 NWC) extended their winning streak to seven games thanks to big second and fourth quarters, taking down the Willamette Bearcats (5-10, 2-4 NWC), 64-54.
 
Linfield grabbed the opening tip and Skylar Willey got to work in the paint, giving Linfield a quick 2-0 lead. Willamette answered, tying the game up a pair of times before taking the lead with a three. The Bearcats led by as many as five late in the quarter, but Jayden Ray and Allie Mead combined for two buckets, one coming at the buzzer to trail only 13-12 after the first ten minutes. 12 points is the Wildcats fewest scored in an opening quarter since December 5 against UW-Oshkosh. 
 
The 'Cats got right to work offensively early in the second quarter, where Lauren Buchanan and Amelia Solt drained threes to propel an 8-0 run over the first three minutes; giving Linfield a 20-13 lead. The run continued through a Willamette timeout, with Miki Vermeulen getting in the mix with a lay-in and a three. The scoreless 15-0 run ended with a layup by Jordan Roberts, while the defense forced numerous turnovers to keep the Bearcats scoreless for over six-and-a-half minutes. 
 
Willamette clawed back with three baskets to end the half, but the Linfield offense shined in the second quarter, scoring 20 points to take a 32-22 lead at the break. 
 
Both squads traded buckets throughout the third quarter, with the Bearcats getting as close as seven, but Jayden Ray helped maintain the cushion with a pair of scores. Coming out of the under-five media timeout, Willamette strung together a 9-2 run, cutting the deficit to just three in the final minute of the quarter. The quarter ended with an 11-2 run in favor of Willamette, trailing just one at 43-42 entering the final ten minutes.
 
With their backs against the wall and having lost all the momentum, the Wildcats dug deep, opening the fourth with a 14-0 run, forcing the Bearcats to commit three fouls in the first three minutes of the quarter. With all of the energy now with the Wildcats, Willamette was forced to call a timeout at the midway point in the quarter, now trailing by 13. 
 
The Bearcats drought ended after another 6:30 of zero points, the second such drought forced by Linfield in the game. Now with the comfortable double-digit lead late in the game, the Wildcats slowed the pace, but also slowed the offensive momentum, allowing Willamette to make consecutive threes, cutting the deficit to seven. 
 
A free throw game down the stretch, Linfield put the game away, knocking off Willamette, 64-54, for their seventh-consecutive victory.
 
Burke led the charge in a game where ten-different Wildcats scored, notching a double-double with a team-high 12 points and 11 rebounds. Mead dished five assists while Vermeulen had five boards and two blocks. Linfield shot 40% from the field and 25% from three, but made up for their misses with an impressive 17-20 from the free throw line.
 
Women's basketball hits the road this weekend, traveling to Tacoma, Washington, to take on Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran on Friday and Saturday. 
 
To follow Linfield Wildcats coverage all season long, visit golinfieldwildcats.com. Please consider following Linfield Athletics on Facebook, and @LinfieldSports on Instagram and X.com. 
 
  Read Full Article