By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications
SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University women's basketball team and their fans have placed sixth in this year's Coaches vs. Cancer 3-Point Challenge. The 3-Point Challenge raised funds for the American Cancer Society through donations made by fans for each successful 3-point shot by the team of their choosing during the month of February. Willamette placed the highest of any NCAA Division III team in the nation. The Bearcat women's team hit 57 shots from 3-point range during the month and raised $4,456. Each 3-pointer scored by the Bearcats raised $79.75 in the 3-Point Challenge.
"Credit for our success in the 3-Point Challenge really needs to go to my assistant, Katie Gruys, for getting the ball rolling and to the greater Willamette community for taking it from there," Willamette Head Coach Peg Swadener said. " A huge thank you goes out to everyone who joined us in this effort to raise awareness and funds for the American Cancer Society. Throughout my time at Willamette, I have been impressed with the Willamette community, and this is a perfect example of what can happen when a community comes together for a common cause."
Leading the standings in the Coaches vs. Cancer 3-Point Challenge was the men's basketball team at the University of Florida, with $63,225 raised. University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) ranked second with $19,548 raised by its men's team. The men's team at the University of North Carolina raised $13,723 to place third, while the Penn State University men's team was fourth at $9,222 and the Villanova University men's team was fifth at $4,577. Willamette finished just $121 behind Villanova in the fund-raising competition.
The University of Illinois men's team was seventh with $3,445 and the women's team from the University of Pennsylvania was eighth at $3,201. Lake Forest College (Ill.) placed ninth with its women's team at $2,388 and the men's team from Colgate University (N.Y.) was 10th at $2,111.
