Linfield women's basketball gets on the board

Rockne Roll/News-Register##Linfield senior Hannah Depew (32) drives past Multnomah junior Lacie Kemper (21) during the Wildcats' 87-67 victory over the Lions Friday evening at Ted Wilson Gymnasium.

Linfield women's basketball has not posted a winning record since the 2010-11 season, but in first-year head coach Casey Bunn's debut, the Wildcats are on the right track.

Amantha Hood led all players with 21 points and 13 rebounds and Quincey Gibson chipped in 13 points as Linfield opened its 2015-16 campaign with an 87-67 victory over NAIA Multnomah Friday night at Ted Wilson Gymnasium.

Paige Graham came off the bench and scored 11 points (3-of-5 3-point shooting) for Linfield, while Hannah Depew chipped in eight points and nine rebounds (seven offensive). The Wildcats, which held a size advantage on the Lions from Portland, used it to a 55-31 rebounding advantage, snagging nearly as many offensive boards (26) as Multnomah did total boards.

Hood and her back-to-the-basket game vexed the Lions from the start. She scored nine points in the first quarter and 16 in the first half, shooting nine of 12 from the field and opening up outside shooters when Multnomah played its zone defense. The Wildcats went on an 11-2 run to close the first quarter on two of Graham's three-pointers and made baskets on seven straight possessions in the second quarter to open up a 42-20 lead.

Bunn inserted all 13 available players into the game, including McMinnville High School graduates Jessica McMillan, Audrey McMillan and Becca Noble. Jessica McMillan, a senior, started the game and finished with six points and four rebounds in 21 minutes; younger sister Audrey, a freshman, had nine points (4-of-8 shooting) and five rebounds in 14 minutes off the bench. Noble played three minutes.

Linfield (1-0) spends the next month away from Ted Wilson Gym, beginning with a Tuesday matchup with NAIA Northwest Christian at 7 p.m. in Eugene.

Men's basketball

Linfield 80, Johnson & Wales 74

PORTLAND -- Kyle Maloof's 19 points and eight rebounds and Austin Daniels' 11 points off the bench paced the Wildcats to a season-opening victory over the NCAA Division III Wildcats at the Bon Appetit Classic at Lewis & Clark College's Pamplin Sports Center

Vince Romero scored all seven of his points off the bench in the final 7 minutes, 13 seconds to help Linfield break a tie at 60 with Johnson & Wales. Maloof chipped in six of his points during that span. 

Quarry Greenway led all scorers with 20 points for the Wildcats of Providence, Rhode Island, and Tom Garrick had 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Mason Rodby added eight points and six rebounds off the bench for Linfield.

The Wildcats (1-0) play the University of Valley Forge Saturday at 4 p.m. as part of the Bon Appetit Classic.