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

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's varsity 8+ has been chosen as the Northwest Conference Women's Rowing Crew of the Week for its efforts in a dual regatta against the Chico State club team on March 26 at the Forebay Aquatic Center near Oroville, California.

Willamette won the WV8+ against Chico State by more than 14 seconds, as the Bearcats recorded a time of 7:42.3 over the 2,000-meter course. Chico State finished the race in 7:57.0.

Rowing on Willamette's WV8+ were stroke Katy Wallner (Jr., Petaluma, CA/Petaluma HS), 7-seat Hannah Puckett (So., Davis, CA/Davis HS), 6-seat Abby Bernhard (Fr., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS), 5-seat Carrie Moore (Fr., Walla Walla, WA/South Eugene HS), 4-seat Bea McAlister (Jr., Kenmore, WA/Inglemoor HS), 3-seat Angela Witty (Jr./Fr., Eugene, OR/Sheldon HS), 2-seat Molly Pritchard (So., Medford, OR/South Medford HS), and bow Sarah Fish (Jr., Issaquah, WA/Holy Names Academy). The coxswain was Julia Di Simone (Fr., Livermore, CA/Livermore Valley Charter Prep).

The course featured flat water with no wind. Willamette was able to keep a significant amount of open water between the Bearcats and Chico State's crew, which resulted in the sizable margin of victory.

Willamette will return to action on Saturday, April 11 at American Lake in Tacoma, Wash. All five NWC teams will be competing, with the Bearcats taking on Lewis & Clark College, Pacific University, Pacific Lutheran University and University of Puget Sound.

The first ever NWC Rowing Championships are set for Sunday, April 19 at Vancouver Lake in Vancouver, Wash.