By Eric Spresser, Student Assistant Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore -- With a mixture of returning talent, incoming transfers and freshmen, the Bearcat women's basketball team will look to continue to improve after coming off its best season since 2004-05. 

Willamette will play an exhibition game at the University of Portland on Saturday, Nov. 14 at 5 p.m. (PST) before tipping off the 2015-16 regular season with a match-up against Dallas Christian College in the Multnomah University Invitational on Friday, Nov. 20 at 6 p.m.

Despite losing two of their top three scorers from a season ago, the Bearcats are fully ready to compete. Among the returning players for Willlamette will be Kylie Towry (Jr./So., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS) and Ashley Evans (So., PG, Canby, OR/Canby HS) in the backcourt.

Towry is the team's top returning scorer after averaging 9.7 points per game, while also grabbing 3.9 rebounds per game and dishing out 1.4 assists per game. In addition, Towry led the team in 3-point percentage at 41.2% and 3-pointers made with 68, and was second in the Northwest Conference in both categories. She set a Willamette record by hitting nine 3-pointers against Caltech on Nov. 21, 2014.

Evans was Willamette's primary point guard as a freshman last season, as she played in all 25 games and made 13 starts. She averaged 3.8 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.3 assists per game last year.

Willamette finished the 2014-15 season with an 80-75 overtime win against Pacific University, as Marisa Hamilton (Jr./So., F, Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) scored a career-high 32 points to go along with nine rebounds to set a good tone heading into the off-season.

Hamilton, who is a sophomore this season, was the team's fourth-leading scorer as she averaged 6.6 points per game. She also grabbed 2.8 rebounds per game. In addition to her 32-point outburst, she scored 15 points at Whitman College on Jan. 30, 2015, and had 16 points at Whitworth University on Jan. 31, 2015, demonstrating her ability to score on any given night.

Juniors Alex Wert (F, Spokane, WA/St. George's HS) and Nikki Turnbull (C, Palo Verde, AZ/Buckeye Union HS) return in the front court. Also helping in the front court will be transfer student Madi Andresen (So., F, Forest Grove, OR/Forest Grove HS).

Wert made 11 starts last season as a forward and was a solid defensive presence. Andresen scored a team-high 17 points in Willamette's 91-70 victory in the Alumni Game on Nov. 1. 

After an exhibition and four non-conference road match-ups, the Bearcat women will begin NWC play at Pacific University on Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. (PST). Willamette will play its first home game of the season on Sat. Dec. 5 in Cone Field House at 4 p.m. against Pacific Lutheran University.