NEWBERG, Ore. -- The Willamette University women's basketball team will open the 2017-18 season against Trinity University (Texas) in the first round of the Bruin Classic at George Fox University on Friday, Nov. 17. tipoff is scheduled for 4 p.m. (PST). George Fox will take on Southwestern University (Texas) in the other first round game on Friday at 6 p.m.

On Saturday, Nov. 18, the Bearcats will battle Southwestern at 4 p.m., while the Bruins will play Trinity at 6 p.m.

As Willamette starts the season, the Bearcats hope to earn their first winning record since 2000-01, when WU ended the year at 17-8. The Bearcats came very close to surpassing the .500 mark in 2015-16 and 2016-17, completing both seasons at 12-13. WU was 5-11 in the Northwest Conference last season.

This year, Willamette has nine returning players from 2016-17, including leading scorer Kylie Towry (Sr./Jr., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS). In addition, Kelsey Walker (Jr., G, Westerville, OH/Westerville North HS) is back after missing all of last season with an injury.

Towry averaged 11.8 points per game to lead the Bearcats last year. She hit 65 of 142 three-point baskets  (45.8%). She finished the season ranked 4th in NCAA Division III in field goal percentage. She was named Honorable Menton All-NWC after earning Second Team All-NWC honors in 2015-16. Towry is Willamette's career three-point leader with 219 successful three-pointers in her career. She has scored 964 career points and needs just 36 points to reach the 1,000-point mark.

Another key returning player is Ashley Evans (Sr., PG, Canby, OR/Canby HS), who averaged 8.2 ponts per game in 2016-17. Evans shot 40.5% from 3-point range, while connecting on 53 of 131 long-range shots. She hit nine 3-pionters against Warner Pacific College on Nov. 15, 2016 to tie Towry for Willamette's single game 3-point shooting record. Evans scored a career-high 29 points against Warner Pacific.

Drew Farmer (Fr., PG, Brookings, OR/Brookings-Harbor HS) led the Bearcats last season with 80 assists, as she averaged 3.2 assists per game. She also provided WU with 4.8 points per game.

Mary Eckenrode (Sr., G, Higley, AZ/Highland HS) averaged 4.7 points per game, while Celine Gregoire (Sr./Jr., P, Woodburn, OR/ Woodburn Academy) contributed 3.4 points and 3.8 rebounds per contest. Whitney Anderson (Sr., G, Willamina, OR/Willamina HS) earned 2.9 points per game, including 12 points against Whitworth Univesity on Dec. 3, 2016.

A top newcomer for Willamette is Britanny Kochenderfer (Jr., Klamath Falls, OR/Henley HS/Idaho State Univ.). Her experience at Idaho State should help her step in right away to help the Bearcats this season.

Last year, the Bearcats averaged 65.2 points per game and allowed just 61.4 points per game. Willamette held 10 teams to fewer than 60 points. The WU defense allowed opponents to shoot just 39.6% from the field and only 30.1% on 3-pointers.

Trinity was 28-2 overall in 2016-17. The Tigers went 13-1 in the Southern Collegiate Athletics Conference (SCAC). Southwestern finished last season with a 10-16 record, including 7-7 in the SCAC. George Fox University achieved a 21-6 overall record last year and went 13-3 in the NWC.