Freshmen Contribute to Willamette's 5-0 Start in Women's Basketball

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University women's basketball team is 5-0 so far this season. The Bearcats have scored 74.8 points per game and have held opponents to 58.0 points per game.

Experienced players Kylie Towry (Sr./Jr., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS), Ashley Evans (Jr., PG, Canby, OR/Canby HS) and Madi Andresen (Jr., P, Forest Grove, OR/Forest Grove HS/Clackamas CC) have led the way. Even so, freshmen Drew Farmer (PG, Brookings, OR/Brookings-Harbor HS) and Sarah Heinly (G, Bend, OR/Summit HS) have made important contributions off the bench.

Farmer has seen action in all five games and ranks fifth on the team with 20.4 minutes played per contest. She leads the Bearcats with 19 assists (3.8 avg.) and has provided 4.0 points and 2.4 rebounds per game as the back-up point guard.

"Drew has brought a different dynamic to the team with her speed and uncanny ability to get into the key off the dribble," Willamette Head Coach Peg Swadener said. "The confidence that she is showing on the floor not only helps us with our depth, but has opened up scoring opportunities for our shooters."

Heinly has played in four games and is averaging 8.0 points per contest. In Willamette's 88-56 victory over Walla Walla University on Nov. 26, Heinly topped the scoring chart with 23 points. She was 9 of 16 from the field, including 5 of 9 on 3-pointers. For the year, Heinly is shooting 48.0% (12 of 25) and is 8 of 17 (47.1%) from 3-point range.

"Sarah is a dynamic scorer who showed what she is capable of during the Walla Walla game," Swadener commented. "Not only is she able to hit from deep range, she can also create off the dribble. She has added a complexity to the offense that makes us a more well-rounded team."

As a team, the Bearcats are shooting a solid 45.5% from the field and are connecting at 42.0% from behind the 3-point arc. Willamette is averaging 12.0 three-point baskets per game. The Bearcats have earned 101 assists for 20.2 assists per game and a +1.6 assist-to-turnover ratio.

Willamette will open Northwest Conference play at home this weekend against Whitman College and Whitworth University. The Bearcats will take on Whitman on Friday, Dec. 2 at 6 p.m. (PST), and will face Whitworth on Saturday, Dec. 3 at 4 p.m. (PST). Whitman, 5-0, received points in this week's D3hoops.com Top 25. Whitworth is 1-2 on the season.