Willamette Women's Basketball Adds a Pair of Most Valuable Players

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University has added two most valuable player selections to the women's basketball roster. Both will be freshmen during the 2016-17 season. The highly successful high school players are Sarah Heinly, a 5'8" guard, and Drew Farmer, a 5'5" point guard.

"We are very excited to have these two young ladies join the Bearcat family," Willamette women's basketball Head Coach Peg Swadener said. "I had an opportunity to coach both of them at the club level, and having known them for years, I couldn't think of two better additions to the Willamette family as a whole."

Willamette finished the 2015-16 season with a 12-13 overall record. It was the Bearcats' best record since going 11-14 in 2001-02. Willamette had no seniors on this year's roster.

As a team, the Bearcats ranked fifth in NCAA Division III in 3-point field goal percentage at 36.8%, not far behind the national leader, Ohio Wesleyan University, which shot 38.3% from 3-point range. The Bearcats ranked 28th in 3-pointers made per game (7.2), were 42nd in total 3-pointers made (181), and finished 31st in overall field goal percentage at 42.7%.

Sarah Heinly (Fr., 5'8", G, Bend, OR/Summit HS) was chosen most valuable player in the Intermountain Conference as a junior and a senior. She was named Second Team All-State.

Heinly also earned First Team All-Conference honors each of the past two seasons, after being named Second Team All-Conference at the conclusion of her sophomore year. As a senior, Heinly averaged 15 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists per game.

She was a three-sport athlete in high school. She helped Summit win two Class 5A State Championships in soccer and four Class 5A State Championships in golf, including this spring.

"Sarah is a feisty competitor who will add depth to our offensive threat," Swadener said. She's known as a dead-eye shooter, but can create off the dribble as well."

Drew Farmer (Fr., 5'5", PG, Brookings, OR/Brookings-Harbor HS) earned most valuable player honors in the Far West Conference during her junior and senior seasons. She was named First Team All-Conference each of the past three years.

Her efforts helped Farmer register Second Team All-State recognition two times after receiving Honorable Mention All-tate honors in 2014. She was named to the All-Tournament Team at the OSAA State Championships in 2016. She averaged 11.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.1 assists and 3.6 steals per game as a senior. Farmer is the career record holder for assists and steals at Brookings-Harbor, and is second all-time in scoring.

"Drew brings an added component to our group of point guards with her relentless defense and ability to create off the dribble," Swadener commented.

Farmer will graduate this year as the valedictorian at Brookings-Harbor High School. 

Joining Heinly and Farmer at Willamette in the fall will be Elizabeth Logsdon.

Elizabeth Logsdon (Fr., 6'0", F, McMinnville, OR/McMinnville HS) will play forward for the Bearcats. She was named Second Team All-Conference as a junior and a senior at McMinnville High School. She helped McMinnville earn a 15-11 record this past season.

"Liz will be another great addition to the team next year," Swadener said. "Her length and athleticism will add a new dynamic to both our offensive and defensive schemes, and her desire to learn and develop makes me confident that she will become a force in the conference."