By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University and four other Northwest Conference women's basketball teams are a combined 32-3 on the season and two of those losses were in head-to-head matchups. The five teams have achieved an impressive 30-1 record when not playing against each other.

In addition to Willamette at 6-1, other NWC teams off to great starts include University of Puget Sound and Whitman College at 7-0, and George Fox University and Lewis & Clark College at 6-1.

Willamette's only loss was to Whitman, while George Fox suffered its only loss against Puget Sound. Among the five teams, the only loss that wasn't in a head-to-head game was Lewis & Clark's defeat against Corban University in a non-conference game on Nov. 16.

Puget Sound is averaging 77.3 points per game and allowing 65.0 points per contest for an average margin of victory of 12.3 points. The Loggers are outrebounding their opponents by 6.9 rebounds per game.

Whitman has outscored its opponents on average 66.0 to 50.7 for a margin of15.3 points per game. In addition, the Blues have grabbed 6.9 more rebounds per game than the teams they've played.

Lewis & Clark has earned 76.0 points per game, while giving up 53.3 points per contest for an NWC-leading margin of 22.7 points per game. On the glass, L&C has outrebounded its opponents by 9.0 rebounds per night.

George Fox has been winning by an average of 18.9 points per game, with 79.9 points scored and 61.0 points allowed per contest. The Bruins have hauled down 3.0 rebounds, more per game than their opponents.

Willamette has scored 70.3 points per game, while allowing just 57.0 points per game. The Bearcats are winning by an average of 13.3 points and have outrebounded their opponents by 2.0 rebounds per game.

The Bearcats are shooting 43.6% from the field (186 of 427) to rank 44th in NCAA Division III. Willamette owns a 38.6% shooting percentage from 3-point range (71 of 184) and is ranked 11th in the nation. The Bearcats are ranked fifth in the nation in 3-point field goals made per game (10.1), are listed sixth in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.47) and are seventh in turnovers per game (12.3).

Willamette is back in action this evening (Friday, Dec. 9), when the Bearcats take on Whittier College (Calif.). Game time is set for 8 p.m. (PST). The Willamette men's basketball team will play University of La Verne to begin the doubleheader at 6 p.m.