Molly Fillion is Chosen First Team All-Northwest Conference

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Molly Fillion (Sr., G, Silverton, OR/Silverton HS/Linn-Benton CC) has been named First Team All-Northwest Conference in women's basketball, as selected by the NWC's head coaches. Fillion led the NWC in scoring and rebounding. She averaged 14.0 points and 10.2 boards per game.

Fillion scored 308 points in Willamette's 22 games during the season. She also grabbed 225 rebounds, earned 46 assists (2.1 avg.) and registered 32 steals (1.5 avg.). She shot 45.8% from the field (103 of 225) and hit 17 of 39 three-pointers (43.6%). She achieved 11 double-doubles this year, giving her 18 in her two seasons with the Bearcats. She transferred from Linn-Benton CC for the start of her junior season.

In two years at WU, Fillion achieved solid career statistics. She started all 47 games for the 'Cats and scored 637 points (13.6 avg.). She also accumulated 466 rebounds (9.9 avg.). She earned 78 assists and recorded 64 steals. She was chosen Honorable Mention All-NWC in 2007-08.

Fillion and her twin sister, Jenny Fillion (Sr., G, Silverton, OR/Silverton HS/Linn-Benton CC) provided strong leadership for the Bearcats, who completed their season in honor of Head Coach Bruce Henderson, who passed away on Dec. 8 after collapsing at a practice session. His assistant coaches, Sara Brooks and Anne Lapray, shared coaching responsibilities the rest of the year, with Brooks handling the day-to-day head coaching duties.

Willamette was 4-18 overall and 3-13 in the Northwest Conference, but the records don't tell the full story of the team's improvement. The Bearcats won three consecutive games in NWC action, and played well against virtually every team during the final month of the season. WU provided undefeated NWC champion George Fox University with two of its most challenging games of the year.

Fillion nearly matched her season averages during the NWC schedule. Against conference opponents, she averaged 13.8 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. She led Willamette in scoring and/or rebounding in 13 of the 16 NWC games.

Joining Fillion as First Team All-NWC selections were Kristen Shielee (Sr., C) and Sage Indendi (Fr., G) of George Fox, Claire Ely (Jr., G) from the University of Puget Sound, Rochelle Reeves (Jr., G) from Pacific University and Hillary White (Jr., G) of Whitman College. Shielee was chosen NWC Player of the Year and Head Coach Scott Rueck of George Fox was named NWC Coach of the Year.