Bearcats Average 88 Points, Earn 51 Assists, in First Two games of the Season

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University women's basketball team is off to a 2-0 start to the 2016-17 season. The Bearcats have averaged 88.0 points per game and have recorded 51 assists on 66 field goals.

Willamette's success is a result of great passing and exceptional shooting, especially from 3-point range. The Bearcats are 32 of 70 on 3-points shot (45.7%). Kylie Towry (Sr./Jr., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS) and Ashley Evans (Jr., PG, Canby, OR/Canby HS) are tied at the top of the long-range chart with 11 three-point baskets.

The Bearcats set a team record with 19 three-pointers in the season opener, a 90-70 win over Warner Pacific College on Nov. 15. Evans tied an individual school record with nine 3-pointers against the Knights, while Towry sank seven 3-pointers. Willamette connected on 13 three-pointers in an 86-69 win over Pacific Union College in the second game of the year on Nov. 18.

Evans is shooting 61.1% from 3-point range (11 of 18). Towry has converted 50.0% from behind the 3-point arc (11 of 22). The Bearcats have limited opponents to 31.0% shooting on 3-point shots (13 of 42).

Including two-point attempts, WU is shooting 48.2% from the field (66 of 137), while holding opponents to 43.3%. Madi Andresen (Jr., P, Forest Grove, OR/Forest Grove HS/Clackamas CC) leads the way at 72.7% (66 of 22), while Evans is shooting 65.0% (13 of 20). Marisa Hamilton (Sr./Jr., F, Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) owns a 54.5% shooting percentage and Towry is at 48.1%.

"I'm really proud of the team and excited to see all of their hard work pay off," Willamette Head Coach Peg Swadener said. "We spend a lot of time talking about spacing, execution and finding the high percentage shots, but they still need to hit the shots when they come. Everyone has put so much time in the gym in the off-season and their performance last week is a direct result of that work."

Success on offense under Swadener usually means a lot of assists for the Bearcats. WU registered 25 assists on 32 baskets against Warner Pacific and produced 26 assists on 34 baskets against Pacific Union. That's an assist on 77.3% of Willamette's baskets, well above the collegiate average of just above or just below 50%.

"We had some great performances last week, but I am most encouraged by the number of assists to baskets scored," Swadener commented. "Everyone knows where the other players are on the court, and it's a great sign of how well we are coming together as a team."

Towry, who leads the team with 21.0 points per game, also ranks first on the team with 11 assists. Mary Eckenrode (Jr., PG, Higley, AZ/Highland HS) follows with eight assists. Three Bearcats -- Evans, Whitney Anderson (Jr., G, Willamina, OR/Willamina HS), and Drew Farmer (Fr., PG, Brookings, OR/Brookings-Harbor HS) -- are tied for third with seven assists apiece.

The Bearcats have three players averaging above 15 points per game. Towry tops the chart, while Evans has contributed 18.5 points per game, and Andresen has scored 17.0 points per game.

Willamette will be back in action on Tuesday, Nov. 22 at Northwest Christian University. Game time in Eugene, Oregon, is set for 7 p.m. (PST).