SALEM, OR -- UC Santa Cruz scored twenty-eight points in the paint and had eight blocks as they cruised to a 73-52 win over Willamette University in Salem. The game was the last game of the Grand Classic. 

Both teams were coming off wins in their last game. UC Santa Cruz won 73-48 over California Lutheran University Monday in Santa Cruz. Willamette won 81-47 over California Institute of Technology in Salem on Friday. 

The game started on a back and forth pace. Willamette would take their largest lead of the game, at 14-10, with 10:10 left after a three pointer by Kylie Towry. The Slugs would chip away at the Bearcats' lead and would gain the lead for the good with 5:24 left in the half after two Sarah Mackey free throws. The Slugs would gain a double digit lead on three occasions through the remainder of the half, the third coming on a Leah Parrish layup with twenty-two seconds left to make the score 39-29. The Bearcats would miss a layup and the Banana Slugs would lead 39-29 going into the halftime intermission. 

The Banana Slugs would keep the Bearcats at arms' length in the second half. The Bearcats would come as close as seven with 6:56 left at 57-50 on a Kylie Towry three pointer. From there the Slugs would expand their lead to double digits again and would gain their largest lead of the game of twenty one points, at 73-52 on a Tyler Stewart free throw. The Banana Slugs would win 73-52.

Leah Parrish had a game high twenty one points for the Banana Slugs. Towry also had twenty one points for the Bearcats. Geena Giovannetti had fifteen points for the Banana Slugs in the win. JoJo DeLong and Kelsey Walker had seven points for the Bearcats.

The Banana Slugs shot 43.6% (24-55) from the field, 45.5% (5-11) from the three point line and was 87% (20-23) from the free throw line. The Bearcats shot 30.5% (18-59) from the field, 38.5% (10-26) from the three point line and 75% (6-8) from the foul line. UC Santa Cruz's defense forced fifteen Bearcats turnovers scoring twelve points off the turnovers while the Bearcats' defense forced nine turnovers by UC Santa Cruz scoring seven points off the turnovers. UC Santa Cruz outrebounded Willamette 41-34 and the Banana Slugs had six more steals (9-3) than did the Bearcats. 

The Slugs will play their next game on Sunday against Pacific University in Forest Grove. Tipoff is set for 11 am.