Mounts is Selected as NWC Men's Basketball Student-Athlete of the Week

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University senior Taylor Mounts (Wing/Post, Kailua, HI/Iolani School) has been chosen Northwest Conference Men's Basketball Student-Athlete of the Week for his efforts in wins by the Bearcats against Lewis & Clark College on Thursday, Feb. 9 and George Fox University on Saturday, Feb. 11. Mounts averaged 22.0 points and 11.5 rebounds during the week.

Mounts scored 20 points and grabbed 16 rebounds as the Bearcats defeated Lewis & Clark, 79-70. He was 6 of 14 from the field and 8 of 9 at the free throw line. He also provided WU with three assists and two blocked shots.

In Willamette's come-from-behind 77-75 win over George Fox, Mounts scored a game-high 24 points, while adding seven rebounds, two blocks and two steals. He made eight of his last nine shots, including 5 for 5 in the last 5:34.

Mounts made a jump shot with 1:35 remaining to tie the game at 73-73. He gave WU a 75-73 advantage on another jumper with 49 seconds left. After George Fox tied the score, Mounts provided the winning points by hitting a 20-foot fade-away jump shot while being guarded with six seconds left.

During the week, Mounts connected on 50.0% of his field goals (17 of 34) and sank 10 of 13 free throws (76.9%). He averaged 1.5 assists, 1.0 steals and 2.0 blocks per game.

Mounts ranks third in the Northwest Conference this season in with 17.1 points per game with 8.2 rebounds per game. He is tied for third in the NWC in blocked shots per game (0.9 avg.) with 21 blocks in 23 games played.

In four years with the Bearcats, Mounts has scored 1,260 points and grabbed 583 rebounds. He has blocked 54 shots during his career.

The Bearcats, who have won three of their last four games, all at Cone Field House against NWC opponents, will complete the 2011-12 season with road games at Whitman College and Whitworth University this weekend. Willamette will play Whitman on Friday, Feb. 17 at 8 p.m. (PST) in Walla Walla, Wash. The Bearcats will take on Whitworth on Saturday, Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. (PST) in Spokane, Wash.