By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- Cassie Tallman (So., Seattle, WA/Roosevelt HS) of Willamette University has been chosen as the Northwest Conference Women's Swimmer of the Week by CollegeSwimming.com for the week ending on Jan. 24. It is the second consecutive week and the third time overall that Tallman has been selected for the honor this season. CollegeSwimming.com chooses men's and women's Swimmers of the Week for all NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA conferences.

Tallman contributed in a big way to the Willamette women's team winning two dual meets during the week. On Friday, Jan. 22, the Bearcats downed Pacific University, 145-52. On Saturday, Jan 23., Willamette defeated Lewis & Clark College, 119-86. The Bearcats are 3-4 on the season and 3-3 in the NWC.

Against Pacific, Tallman won two individual events and swam the third leg on the victorious 400-medley relay team. She took first place in the 200-yard individual medley in 2:18.83 and then led a 1-2-3 finish for the Bearcats in the 200-yard breaststroke with a winning tmie of 2:33.42.

The 400 medley relay team was timed at 4:15.53. Joining Tallman on the relay were Kiley Lin (Fr., Palo Alto, CA/Henry M. Gunn HS), Ashlyn Witherwax (So., Honolulu, HI/Punahou School) and Jamie Johnson (So., Seattle, WA/Nathan Hale HS).

In WU's win at Lewis & Clark, Tallman won the 200-yard freestyle and helped the Bearcats win the 200-yard medley relay. She placed second in the 100-yard breaststroke, completing the race in the middle of another 1-2-3 finish.

Tallman's time in the 200 freestyle at L&C was 2:05.30. In the 100 breaststroke, she recorded a time of 1:11.17.

Willamette registered a time of 1:55.36 in the 200 medley relay. In addition to Tallman, swimmers on the relay were Lin, Witherwax and Malia Santos (Sr., Kailua-Kona, HI/Kealakehe HS).

The Bearcats will conclude the dual meet season on Saturday, Jan. 30 when they host archrival Linfield College at the WU Natatorium. Action is set to begin at 1 p.m. (PST).