By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications, (503) 370-6110
SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University women's basketball team is off to a 10-5 start to the season. While compiling a strong record, the Bearcats have earned great statistics and are ranked in the top 10 nationally in six team categories and one individual category.
Willamette is ranked third in fewest turnovers, as the Bearats have lost the ball just 183 times in 15 games. The national leader, Morrisville State College (N.Y). has committed 173 turnovers. WU also is third in turnovers per game at 12.2, just 0.1 behind national co-leaders Thomas More College (Ky.) and University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, each at 12.1.
The Bearcats are fourth in NCAA Division III in assists-to-turnover ratio at +1.34. per game. WU is 45th in assists per game with 16.3 assists per contest.
Three of Willamette's top 10 national rankings involve 3-point shooting. WU is seventh in 3-point field goals per game (8.9), eighth in 3-point field goal percentage (37.8%), and ninth in the nation in 3-point field goals made with 133.
Head Coach Peg Swadener's team shoots well on all of its field goals. Willamette's overall shooting percentage is 43.1%, good for 38th in the nation despite playing in the very competitive Northwest Conference.
Individually, Kylie Towry (Sr./Jr., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS) leads the way by ranking seventh in 3-point field goal percentage at 46.9%. Towry is 18th in 3-point field goals made (45) and is 16th in 3-point field goals made per game (3.0).
Ashley Evans (Jr., PG, Canby, OR/Canby HS) of Willamette is listed at 24th in 3-point field goal percentage. She is 65th in 3-point field goals made (37).
Freshman point guard Drew Farmer (Fr., PG, Brookings, OR/Brookings-Harbor HS) is ranked 27th in assist-to-turnover ratio at +2.04. She has earned 47 assists, while committing 23 turnovers.
The Bearcats will be back in action when they host NWC archrival Linfield College at Cone Field House on Friday, Jan. 20. Game time is set for 6 p.m. (PST). Willamette will take on Pacific University on Saturday, Jan. 21 at 4 p.m. (PST) in Forest Grove, Oregon.
