By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University junior forward Elyse Waldal (Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS/Linfield University) has been chosen as the Northwest Conference Women's Basketball Student-Athlete of the Week for her efforts in victories on the road against Whitworth University on Friday, Dec. 1 and at Whitman College on Saturday, Dec. 2. The Bearcats defeated Whitworth 77-71 and downed #17-ranked Whitman 66-61. Waldal averaged 18.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 0.5 steals per game to help lead the Bearcats to the pair of NWC wins.

Waldal began the weekend by scoring 18 points versus Whitworth, while earning three rebounds and three assists. Against Whitman, she provided Willamette with 19 points, six rebounds, and one steal. She sank a 3-pointer with 1:12 left that completed an individual 8-0 run and gave the Bearcats a 62-57 lead against the Blues.

For the week, Waldal was 15 for 29 on field goals (51.7%) and 5 for 12 (41.7%) on 3-pointers. She connected on 2 of 3 free throw attempts.

"What a great honor this is for Elyse," Willamette Head Women's Basketball Coach Peg Swadener said. "She had a wonderful performance through the whole weekend, but she was absolutely clutch down the stretch against Whitman."

Waldal is Willamette's leading scorer this season with 13.0 points per game and also tops the offensive chart with 15 three-point baskets. She ranks third for the Bearcats with 4.8 rebounds per game.

The Bearcats are 2-0 in the NWC and 4-4 on the season. Willamette will host Oregon Institute of Technology on Thursday, Dec. 8 at Cone Field House. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. PST.