Bearcats Finish 3rd in NCAA for 3-Point Percentage and Fewest Turnovers

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- The Willamette University women's basketball team finished the 2016-17 season ranked among the national leaders in NCAA Division III in several team and individual categories. Topping Willamette's statistical accomplishments were third place in 3-point field goal percentage and third place in fewest turnovers.

As one of Division III's most successful 3-point shooting teams, the Bearcats hit 211 of 563 three-point shots for 37.5%. The Bearcats ended the year just 0.4 behind the national leader, Bethel University (Minn.), which shot 37.9% from 3-point range (177 of 467).

Willamette committed 325 turnovers for an average of 13.0 turnovers per game. In addition to being ranked third in total turnovers, the Bearcats were eighth in Division III in turnovers per game. Sewanee:  University of the South (Tenn.) led the nation with just 310 turnovers (12.4 per game), while Thomas More College (Ky.) ranked first with 11.6 turnovers per game.

"I'm so proud of this team and what they accomplished throughout the season," Willamette Head Coach Peg Swadener said. "Our conference is so strong top-to-bottom, and the fact that we were able to produce what we did offensively night in and night out against some of the best competition in the country really says something about the team."

The Bearcats were ninth in the nation with 8.4 three-point field goals made per game. Willamette ranked 20th in total 3-pointers made (211), including a school record 19 successful 3-pointers against Warner Pacific College (Ore.) in the season opener.

In the game against Warner Pacific, Ashley Evans (Jr., PG, Canby, OR/Canby HS) hit nine 3-pointers to tie the Willamette individual single game record, set by Kylie Towry (Sr./Jr., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS) against California Institute of Technology on Nov. 21, 2014.

During the season, the Bearcats sank 10 or more 3-pointers in nine games and made at least nine 3-pointers in 12 games.

Willamette concluded the season ranked 16th in assist-to-turnover ratio at +1.13. The Bearcats earned 367 assists compared to 325 turnovers. WU committed fewer than 10 turnovers in six games, including a season-low of seven against Pacific Union College (Calif.) on Nov. 18 and versus Multnomah University (Ore.) on Jan. 2.

Strong 3-point shooting also helped the Bearcats rank 59th in the nation in overall field goal shooting at 41.9% (595 of 1,419). Thomas More led Division III at 47.8%.

"Our shooting percentage had a lot to do with the unselfishness of the team and their willingness to work the ball until we got a great shot, " Swadener noted. "We had so many different players have great performances throughout the year and that was indicative of all the hard work they put in outside of practice. It's always fun watching their hard work pay off."

On the NCAA Division III individual statistical rankings, Towry finished fourth in 3-point field goal percentage at 45.8% (65 of 142). Evans also ended the year in the top 20, as she held 19th place at 40.5% (53 of 131). Hillary Hellmann from Case Western Reserve University (Ohio) ranked first in the nation at 47.4% (73 of 154).

Marisa Hamilton (Sr./Jr., F, Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) of Willamette did not meet the minimum of two 3-pointers made per game in order to qualify for an NCAA statistical ranking, but shot 51.2% (21 of 41) from 3-point range.

In 3-point field goals made per game, Towry ranked 45th (2.6 avg.) and Evans was 68th (2.4 avg.). Towry's 65 three-point baskets placed her 53rd in total 3-pointers made.

Drew Farmer (Fr., PG, Brookings, OR/Brookings-Harbor HS) of Willamette placed 54th in assist-to-turnover ratio. Her rate of +1.82 assists per turnover included a team-high 80 assists and just 44 turnovers in 25 games played.