SALEM, Ore.— Six Regals scored double-digits, but it wasn't enough as the Willamette Bearcats snuck past Cal Lutheran women's basketball 84-80 on Friday night.
CLU has lost both games to start the year, with only a combined margin of six points. Willamette moved to 4-1 on the year as the Bearcats escaped with the win.
Mackenzy Iwahashi led the way for the Regals with 16 points while only missing one shot. She was 6-for-7 from the field and 2-for-2 from three-point range and the free throw line.
Cameron Mallory was next with 13 points, making three three-pointers, and added nine rebounds. Natalie Ruhl and Taylor Oshiro were next with 12 points, Jozie Tangeman added 11 more and Jade Jordan had 10 points and seven rebounds.
The game was very close statistically with the Regals shooting 45.9-percent compared to the Bearcats' 42.9-percent. CLU kept up the hot shooting going with 45.5-percent from three as Willamette only shot 36-percent. The one favorable part of the game for the Bearcats was bench points as they outscored the Regals 32-18.
The game featured 12 ties and 24 lead changes with both teams having their chances to put the other away. The Regals had the final say of the first half as Tangeman converted two free throws and CLU took a 37-35 lead to the second half.
Cal Lutheran had its chances going up by six and seven points early in the second half. Willamette would not be phased as the Bearcats tied the game at 50-50 with five minutes left in the third.
With the score tied at 57, the Bearcats went on a 8-0 run and took the lead with seven minutes left in the game. Willamette gained momentum after the run and eventually went up 79-68 with 1:37 left.
The Regals would not go away, but were held off, as the Bearcats escaped with a four-point win, 84-80.
Cal Lutheran continues the season on the road and will be at George Fox on Saturday with the tipoff set for 6 p.m.
Box Score: WU 84, CLU 80
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Release by Ryan Jorgenson, Sports Information Director