By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- Two Willamette University women's basketball players -- Kylie Towry (Jr./So., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS) and Alex Wert (Jr., F, Spokane, WA/St. George's HS) -- have led the Bearcats so far this season through their efforts on and off the court. Both players make big contributions for Willamette, but they do so in different ways.

Towry ranks first on the team and is sixth in the Northwest Conference with 16.3 points per game. She also leads the team with 11 three-point baskets. Wert tops the roster and is third in the NWC with 8.0 rebounds per game. She is the NWC leader in defensive rebounds with 25 in Willamette's first four games (6.3 avg.). The Bearcats are 3-1.

"Scoring is fun ... I shoot outside a lot," Towry said. "I'm trying to work at driving inside to advance my game."

Towry also has defensive responsibilities which increase her leadership role.

"I'm the long safety, which means I'm getting back when the other team gets the ball," Towry noted. "And a lot of the time, I'm arranging the defense."

For Wert, rebounding has been her primary contribution to the team's statistics each night.

"Rebounding just comes naturally to me," Wert said. "It's being in the right place and the right time. You just have to go get the ball."

While working to put the ball through the basket on offense, Towry knows that she's not alone in making the offense succeed.

"It's nice as a shooter to know we have rebounders," Towry said. "There's Alex. She gets a lot of boards."

On a team that doesn't have any seniors, it's great to have two experienced players who can provide leadership.

"Both Alex and Kylie have done an amazing job stepping up as leaders this year," Willamette Head Coach Peg Swadener said. "The two of them complement each other with their personalities and skill sets both on and off the court. I have placed a lot on their shoulders asking them to step up this year, and they have been great mentors to the younger players."

Towry and Wert help keep the team organized.

"Whenever there's a foul that leads to free throws, we make sure that everyone comes together," Towry said. The meeting gives the team a chance to discuss the situation and to encourage the shooter if Willamette has the free throws.

In general, "we make sure that everyone is on the same page on the court," she added.

The Bearcats have just one true freshman in Kali Vickery (Fr., G, Glide, OR/Glide HS).

"She'll ask questions and we'll help her," Towry said.

Other members of the team also seek advice from Towry and Wert.

They'll ask "Who's a good professor for this class," Towry said.

Off the court, the players occasionally get together for team meals. It's a chance for the Bearcats to learn more about each other and to build the team's chemistry.

"Team dinners ... we've had two of them this year," Towry said.

"A couple or three of us cook it," Wert added.

Towry and Wert hope their leadership will help the team achieve one of its biggest goals for the season.

"As a team, we have the goal of 0225," Towry said. The number stand for Feb. 25, the first day of the Northwest Conference Tournament. Four of the NWC's nine teams will advance to the tournament.

The Bearcats have a plan for achieving their goal.

"Win at home, split on the orad is what we're focussing on," Wert said. "We're focusing more on defense and rebounding this year."

"We've been working on our defense a lot," Towry added. "We have to get stops ... keep the other team from scoring."

Willamette's efforts have led to great starts and great finishes in most of their games so far this season. In the team's three wins, the Bearcats have outscored their opponents 76-41 in the first quarter and 56-45 in the fourth quarter. Willamette scored a season-high 28 points in the first quarter against Pomona-Pitzer (Calif.).

"We definitely come out fired up," Towry said. "All of us are really pumped up for the game."

At the end of the game, "there's more of a sense of urgency," Wert noted. "We finish pretty well as a team."

"You can't just start well, you have to finish well, too," Towry added. "Play the fourth quarter strong."

Willamette opens Northwest Conference action this weekend. The Bearcats will play at Pacific University in Forest Grove, Oregon, on Friday, Dec. 4 at 6 p.m. (PST). Willamette's home opener is on Saturday, Dec. 5 against Pacific Lutheran University. Tipoff at Cone Field House is set for 4 p.m.