SALEM, ORE. -- Senior guard Laura Payne (Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS) and junior guard Molly Fillion (Silverton, OR/Linn-Benton CC) capped stellar campaigns by being named Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference as selected by the NWC head coaches.
Payne started all of the Bearcats' 25 games and led the team in 3-point percentage (34.9%), 3-point field goals made (44) and 3-pointers attempted (126). She also averaged 35.6 minutes played per game, tops for the Bearcats this year. For the season, she averaged 13.0 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game.
She finished tied for fourth in the NWC in 3-pointers made per game, ninth in points per game, and first in minutes per game. She also finished 13th in the conference in 3-point percentage, shooting 34.9 percent (25 of 44) on the year.
Her best game of the season came during the Bearcats' 86-77 loss against Whitworth University on Jan. 5, when she poured in a season-high 22 points, and added four assists and two steals. She also recorded a double-double in Willamette's 77-43 win over Haverford on Nov. 17, scoring 18 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
For her career, Payne had 1,027 points, 356 rebounds, and 221 assists. She averaged 9.7 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 2.2 assists a game. Payne also started all 99 games during her career. On WU's all-time list, Payne ranks second in free throws made with 212 and is third in free throws attempted at 302. This season, Payne was the Bearcats' high scorer 12 times.
Fillion also started all of the Bearcats' 25 games and led the team in field goal percentage (42.4%), free throws made (68), rebounding (241), steals (32), and points scored (329). She was just shy of averaging a double-double for the season, with 13.2 points and 9.6 rebounds per game. She also shot 42.4% (115-271) and added 1.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game.
Her 241 rebounds led the NWC, and she was first in the conference in defensive rebounds with 164 (6.6 per game). She finished eighth in the NWC in scoring, 12th in free throw percentage and 12th in steals. She tied for 15th in 3-point field goals made, was third in offensive rebounds and ranked fifth in minutes played.
Fillion had many strong games this season, recording double-doubles in seven games. Her strongest performance came during the Bearcats' 63-54 loss against Corban College on Nov. 27, when she scored a game-high 24 points, a season-high 19 rebounds, four steals and one assist. She also recorded a double-double in Willamette's 68-59 loss to Southern Oregon Univesity on Dec. 7, scoring 24 points and grabbing 17 rebounds.
There is plenty of optimism for the Bearcats heading into next season, with juniors Molly Fillion (Guard, Silverton, OR/Linn-Benton CC), Jenny Fillion (Guard, Silverton, OR/Linn-Benton CC), and Selena Levy (Guard, San Anselmo, CA/Sir Francis Drake HS) all returning.
Laura Payne started all 99 games during her Willamette University career.
