By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University junior guard Katie Kalugin (Woodburn, OR/Woodburn HS) has been selected as the Northwest Conference Women's Basketball Student-Athlete of the Week for games played between Dec. 16 and Dec. 22. Kalugin averaged 19.7 points and 9.7 rebounds in Willamette's three games.

Her efforts helped the Bearcats go 1-2 at the Hampton Inn Classic III hosted by the University of California-Santa Cruz. Willamette lost to UC-Santa Cruz, 77-51, and fell to the University of La Verne, 71-67, before defeating Berry College (Ga.), 72-60, in the Bearcats' third game in three days.

Against UC-Santa Cruz, she scored 15 points and grabbed seven rebounds. She achieved 14 points and 11 boards against La Verne, and then concluded the week with an outstanding effort against Berry.

In Willamette's win over the Vikings, Kalugin scored a career-high 30 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. She was 13 of 25 from the field, including 3 of 4 on 3-point shots.

During the week, shot 46.9% from the field (23 of 49) and averaged 30.3 minutes played per game. She connected on 10 of 13 free throws (76.9%), earned four assists and provided two steals. She scored 59 points and recorded 29 rebounds.

Kalugin is Willamette's leading scorer this season with 13.3 points per game. She leads the Bearcats in field goals made (45) and free throws made (26), and ranks second on the team with 61 rebounds (6.8 avg.). She has scored in double figures in six of Willamette's nine games.

The Bearcats are 2-7 on the season, but have lost four games by five or fewer points. Willamette has held opponents to 68.1 points per game, including seven games in which the Bearcats have allowed 71 or fewer points.

Willamette will return to action on Friday, Jan. 3 in the team's Northwest Conference opener against Whitman College. Game time at Cone Field House on the WU campus is scheduled for 6 p.m. (PST).