By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University women's basketball team, which had no seniors a year ago, enters the 2016-17 season with significant experience. Nearly the entire roster from 2015-16 is back, including the top seven scorers and the top seven rebounders. It is the fifth season at Willamette for Head Coach Peg Swadener.

Last year, the Bearcats earned a 12-13 overall record for Willamette's best record since going 17-8 in 2000-01. This year, Willamette will be out to take the next step to move above the .500 mark.

The season starts on Tuesday, Nov. 15, when the Bearcats host Warner Pacific College at Cone Field House at 7 p.m. (PST). The Bearcats also are scheduled to play at home on Friday, Nov. 18 at 12 p.m. against Pacific Union College.

Willamette shot the ball well in 2015-16, both from inside the arc and from 3-point range. The Bearcats ranked fifth in NCAA Division III in 3-point percentage at 36.8% after hitting 181 of 492 three-point shots. WU ranked 27th in the nation with 7.2 three-pointers made per game, including 10 or more 3-pointers in five games. Willamette was 32nd in Division III in overall field goal shooting at 42.7%.

Kylie Towry (Jr./So., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS) returns after leading the Bearcats with 13.5 points per game last season. She made 54 of 159 three-pointers and his currently fifth on WU's all-time list with 154 successful career 3-point shots. Towry shot 80.9% at the free throw line (38 of 47) and ranked second on the team with 4.6 rebounds per game.

Towry supplied 71 assists (2.8 avg.) and led the team with 34 steals (1.4 avg.). She begins this season with 670 career points and 243 career rebounds.

Other top returning players include Marisa Hamilton (Jr./So., F, Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS), Madi Andresen (So., C, Forest Grove, OR/Forest Grove HS/Clackamas CC), Alex Wert (Jr., F, Spokane, WA/St. George's HS), Ashley Evans (So., PG, Canby, OR/Canby HS), and Whitney Anderson (So., G, Willamina, OR/Willamina HS).

Hamilton averaged 9.8 points per game and trailed only Towry on the team's scoring chart. In addition, Hamilton provided 4.1 rebounds per game.

Andresen topped the statistics with 52.6% field goal shooting. She contributed 7.8 points per game. Wert led the Bearcats with 6.6 rebounds per game and a total of 12 blocked shots.

From the point guard position Ashley Evans (So., PG, Canby, OR/Canby HS) provided the Bearcats with a tema-high 72 assists (3.4 avg.) and ranked 67th in the nation with a +1.71 assist-to-turnover ratio. She scored 7.6 points per game.

Whitney Anderson (So., G, Willamina, OR/Willamina HS) also made key contributions for WU last season. She joined Towry, Andresen, and Wert as starters in all 25 games. She averaged 6.4 points per game.

The Bearcats were strong on defense in 2015-16. They allowed just 60.6 points per game and held opponents to 40.3% field goals shooting and 30.5% on 3-point attempts. Willamette outrebounded its opponents by 3.2 rebounds per game.