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

SALEM, ORE. -- Two challenging Northwest Conference games are on schedule for the Willamette University women's basketball team this week, as the Bearcats will take on a pair of nationally-ranked teams. Willamette will play at George Fox University on Friday, Feb. 6 at 6 p.m. (PST) and will return home to take on University of Puget Sound on Saturday, Feb. 7 at 4 p.m.

George Fox is ranked #4 in the D3hoops.com Top 25 and is #5 in the USA Today Sports NCAA Division III Coaches Poll. Puget Sound is ranked #22 by D3hoops.com, but fell out of the USA Today Coaches Poll after losing to George Fox, 77-73, on Jan. 30. The Loggers rebounded with a 68-49 win at Pacific Lutheran University on Tuesday, Feb. 3.

The Bruins of GFU are undefeated at 19-0 on the season, including 10-0 in the NWC. Puget Sound is 16-3 overall, 7-3 in the NWC, entering a game at Pacific University on Friday. Willamette is 6-13 overall and 1-9 in the NWC.

Multimedia coverage of both games will be available through Live Video and Live Stats.

Senior point guard Jojo DeLong (Santa Clarita, CA/Canyon HS) tops the Bearcats with 242 points in 19 games, for an average of 12.7 points per game. She recently moved into 11th place on Willamette's all-time scoring list with 804 career points.

DeLong also leads the team with 4.2 assists per game and 0.8 steals per contest. She ranks second with 44 three-point baskets for the season and has grabbed 4.1 rebounds per game.

Another senior, Katie Kalugin (G, Woodburn, OR/Woodburn HS) is second on Willamette's scoring chart with 10.1 points per game. She leads the Bearcats with 6.9 rebounds per game.

Kylie Towry (So./Fr., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS) leads WU with 52 three-point baskets and 40.0% three-point shooting. She is averaging 9.8 points per game.

Marisa Hamilton (So./Fr., C, Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) has averaged 6.1 points per contest, and is averaging 9.7 points per conference game. Julia Brand (Sr., F, Kaneohe, HI/Punahou School) has hauled down 4.4 rebounds per game and trails on Kalugin on the WU's rebounding list.

George Fox ranks first in the NWC in both scoring offense and scoring defense. The Bruins are averaging 75.5 points per game while allowing only 51.4 points per game. GFU also ranks first in the conference in field goal percentage (43.8%) and field goal percentage defense (35.1%).

Justine Benner (Jr., Post) tops the GFU lineup with 16.2 points per game and is shooting 52.4% from the field (121 of 231). Jami Morris (Sr. Post) follows with 12.4 points per game. Morris leads the Bruins with 41 three-point baskets and has converted 39.7% of her three-point attempts.

Lauren Codling (Sr., Wing) also averages double-digit scoring with 11.3 points per contest. She is the NWC leader with 11.0 rebounds per game and ranks first in the NWC with 3.5 steals per game.

Puget Sound is second in the conference in scoring offense with 70.2 points per game. The Loggers also hold second place in scoring defense (57.7 avg.) and field goal percentage defense (36.0%). UPS is shooting 76.4% as a team at the free throw line (236 of 309).

The Loggers have three players averaging in double figures. They are Amanda Forshay (Sr., G), Katy Ainslie (Sr., Post) and Emily Sheldon (Jr., G).

Forshay is the leading scorer and rebounder with 13.5 points and 7.5 boards per game. She also ranks first for the Loggers with 23 three-pointers on the season. Ainslee is averaging 12.7 points per game and Sheldon is contributing 12.5 points per game.

Ainslee has converted 85.4% of her free throws (41 of 48) and ranks second for UPS with 6.4 rebounds per game. Alex Noren (So. G) has supplied a team-high 55 assists (2.9 avg.) for the Loggers. She also leads UPS with 31 steals (1.6 avg.).

Willamette's game with Puget Sound begins a three-game home stand for the Bearcats. WU will host Lewis & Clark College on Tuesday, Feb. 10 and will take on Pacific Lutheran University at Cone Field House on Friday, Feb. 13. The games against L&C and PLU will start at 6 p.m. (PST).