Scotts Valley High alumna Kaitlin Imai had 15 points, eight rebounds, seven assists, and four steals to help Willamette University post a 87-53 win over UC Santa Cruz in Salem, Oregon, on Monday night.

Imai, a junior guard, made five 3-pointers, and the Bearcats (3-4) never trailed.

Freshman guard Emilie Ngo had 16 points, seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals for the Banana Slugs (2-5). Reserve sophomore forward Alexa Litchev had 16 points and four rebounds. Freshman forward Claire Galbo had 13 points, four assists, and three rebounds.

Senior forward Elyse Waldal scored a game-high 25 points for the Bearcats.

UCSC plays Pacific (2-5) in Forest Grove, Oregon, on Wednesday at 4 p.m.

Men’s basketball

At Chapman 76, UCSC 73 >> Junior center/forward Joe Espy had 20 points and seven rebounds, but the Banana Slugs coughed up an 18-point lead in their loss in Orange on Monday.

UCSC led 37-29 at the half, but was outscored 47-36 in the second half.

Senior guard Zino Okah had 12 points, six assists, and four rebounds for UCSC (7-6), but committed six of the Banana Slugs’ 12 turnovers. Junior wing Caden Breznikar had 10 points, six rebounds, two blocks, and two steals in 23 minutes off the bench, and fellow reserve Miles Burrows, a sophomore wing, also scored 10 points.

Senior guard Blakeley Stoughton scored 19 points for the Panthers (8-1), and junior guard Cruz Billings scored 18 points.

UCSC plays at Redlands (6-2) on Wednesday at 3 p.m.

Boys basketball

North Monterey County 78, at St. Francis 69 >> The Sharks got off to a slow start on offense, made just nine of their 24 free-throw attempts, and suffered their first loss of the season Monday.

Senior Nash Horton had 19 points, eight rebounds, four steals, and three assists for St. Francis (6-1), which trailed 15-4 at the end of the first quarter.

“I think it took us a quarter to adjust to the tougher competition and speed,” said Sharks coach Robert Gomez. “I think it’s the best game we played, we just missed a ton of easy shots and 15 free throws.”

Junior Jacob Jimenez also scored 19 points for the Sharks, and had four rebounds and three assists. Sophomore Isaiah Villalobos scored 12 points.

Senior Kenji Mellin scored a game-high 24 points for the Condors (3-1). Senior AJ Gomez made six of NMC’s 12 3-pointers and finished with 23 points. Senior George Gutierrez scored 13 points.

St. Francis plays at Monte Vista Christian (4-3) on Friday at 7 p.m.

Girls basketball

At Half Moon Bay 69, Santa Cruz 43 >> Karolina Espinosa, Santa Cruz’s lone returning varsity player from last season, scored 20 points, but the Cardinals lost their nonleague road game Monday.

Brooke Alden, a transfer from Kirby School, added eight points for Santa Cruz (2-5), which trailed 41-20 at the half.

Junior guard Xochitl Nieves scored 19 points for the Cougars (6-1), and 6-foot junior center Zoey Lemoge scored 18 points. Senior guard Delaney Dorwin scored 13 points, and junior forward Aila Grierson made four 3s and finished with 12 points.

Santa Cruz hosts Lynbrook (2-2) of San Jose on Saturday at 4 p.m.

Girls soccer

San Lorenzo Valley 7, St. Francis 0 >> Naomi Sifton had two goals and an assist, and the Cougars earned their first win of the season Monday.

The Cougars (1-3-0) exploded for four goals in the first 20 minutes and led 5-0 at the half.

Kendyl Richardson also scored twice for SLV. Ruby Nunns and Jessica Stoeling each had a goal and an assist, and Abi Gabrielson added a goal.

Dahlia Cardenas and Cheyenne Casey also recorded assists.

Sharks coach Chris Croghan praised the efforts of Ella Dewig and Aubrey Nualart, who played out of position due to missing players, but “had solid games.”

Casey served as SLV’s goalie in the first half, and teammate Jenna Stover made the Cougars’ lone save in the second half.

SLV hosts Pacific Collegiate (1-2-0) on Thursday at 3:30 p.m.

Pajaro Valley 2, at Soquel 1 >> The Grizzlies scored goals two minutes apart in the second half and rallied for the nonleague win Monday.

Senior midfielder Leslie Carrisoza dribbled past three players and scored the tying goal in the 67th minute. Senior midfielder Valeria Acosta was credited with an assist.

Two minutes later, freshman striker Denis Magallon scored on a rebound from Carrisoza’s free kick.

Freshman goalie Kendra Rivas Vazquez made a season-high 10 saves for the Grizzlies.

Pajaro Valley (4-1-0) hosts Monterey on Wednesday at 3:30 p.m.