2009-10 Women's Basketball News

Season
Zennan and Fujioka Grab Honorable Mention All-NWC Honors
Zennan and Fujioka Grab Honorable Mention All-NWC Honors

SALEM, ORE. -- Alex Zennan (Jr., G, Sammamish, WA/Eastlake HS) and Keilyn Fujioka (Jr., Post, Kailua, HI/Iolani School) have been named Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference in women's basketball, as selected by the NWC's head coaches. Claire Ely (University of Puget Sound) was named NWC Player of the Year after leading the conference in scoring. Scott Rueck, head coach at George Fox University, was named Coach of the Year after leading his team to their second consecutive undefeated NWC season.

Zennan Scores 27 Points, but Boxers Down Bearcats, 83-74
Zennan Scores 27 Points, but Boxers Down Bearcats, 83-74

SALEM, ORE. -- Alex Zennan (Jr., G, Sammamish, WA/Eastlake HS) scored 27 points for Willamette University, but the Pacific University still defeated the Bearcats, 83-74, in a Northwest Conference game at Cone Field House on Saturday, Feb. 20. Pacific concluded the season with a 7-16 overall record, 4-12 in the NWC. Willamette ended the year at 4-21, 2-14 in the NWC.

Defensive Effort Sends Bearcats Past Lutes, 52-44
Defensive Effort Sends Bearcats Past Lutes, 52-44

TACOMA, WASH. -- A tremendous defensive effort in the second half allowed Willamette University to rally from a 28-21 halftime deficit and defeat Pacific Lutheran University, 52-44, in a Northwest Conference game on Friday, Feb. 19. Willamette held the Lutes to just 16 points and just 2 of 33 shooting (6.1%) in the second half. PLU shot 20.6% shooting for the game (13 of 63).

Women's Basketball Game Night: WU Hopes to Finish Strong
Women's Basketball Game Night: WU Hopes to Finish Strong

SALEM, ORE. -- The Bearcats of Willamette University will conclude the 2009-10 season against Pacific Lutheran University and Pacific University in a pair of Northwest Conference games this weekend. WU travels to PLU on Friday, Feb. 19 to take on the Lutes. Willamette returns to Cone Field House on Saturday, Feb. 20 to close out the season against Pacific. Both games are set to begin at 6 p.m. (PST). The Bearcats will honor senior Nicki Clowdsley (P, Sammamish, WA/Skyline HS) before the final game of her career on Saturday.

Basketball Games Delayed
Basketball Games Delayed

SALEM, ORE. -- The men's and women's basketball games scheduled for tonight (Friday, Feb. 12) between Willamette University and George Fox University have been delayed. Officials arrived late for the men's game, which is now set to begin at 7:10 p.m. (PST). The women's game will follow.

Fifth-Ranked George Fox Defeats Bearcats, 84-42
Fifth-Ranked George Fox Defeats Bearcats, 84-42

SALEM, ORE. -- George Fox University connected on 15 of 32 three-point shots, as the Bruins defeated Willamette University, 84-42, at Cone Field House on Friday, Feb. 12. George Fox, ranked #5 in the D3Hoops.com Top 25, improved to 20-2 overall, 13-0 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 3-20 on the season, 1-13 in the NWC.

Women's Basketball Game Night: WU Hopes to Slay Goliath
Women's Basketball Game Night: WU Hopes to Slay Goliath

SALEM, ORE. -- The Bearcats of Willamette University will take on Northwest Conference opponent George Fox University in a women's basketball game on Friday, Feb. 12 at 8 p.m. (PST) in Salem, Ore. The game will follow the Willamette men's basketball game, which starts at 6 p.m.

Pioneers are Strong on the Boards, Down Bearcats, 70-58
Pioneers are Strong on the Boards, Down Bearcats, 70-58

PORTLAND, ORE. -- Lewis & Clark College hauled down 60 rebounds, allowing the Pioneers to overcome 31.0% shooting with second-chance points in a 70-58 victory over Willamette University on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at the Pamplin Sports Complex. L&C improved to 15-7 overall, 8-4 in the Northwest Conference.

Women's Basketball Game Night: Bearcats Travel North To Lewis & Clark
Women's Basketball Game Night: Bearcats Travel North To Lewis & Clark

SALEM, ORE. -- The Bearcats of Willamette University will take on Northwest Conference rival Lewis & Clark College in a women's basketball game on Tuesday, Feb. 9 at 8 p.m. (PST) in Portland, Ore. The game will follow the Willamette men's basketball game at L&C, which starts at 6 p.m.

Linfield Receives 35 Points from Owens, Downs Willamette, 93-69
Linfield Receives 35 Points from Owens, Downs Willamette, 93-69

McMINNVILLE, ORE. -- Gretchen Owens scored 35 points and hit 15 of 16 free throws to lead Linfield College to a 93-69 win over Willamette University at Ted Wilson Gymnasium on Saturday, Feb. 5. Owens was 8 of 16 from the field, including 4 for 6 on 3-point shots. She also recorded eight rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Ely Leads Puget Sound in Win over Bearcats, 76-33
Ely Leads Puget Sound in Win over Bearcats, 76-33

SALEM, ORE. -- Senior guard Claire Ely scored 27 points, leading the University of Puget Sound past Willamette University, 76-33, on Friday, Feb. 5 at Cone Field House. Puget Sound improved to 18-3 overall, 10-2 in the Northwest Conference. Willamette fell to 3-17 overall, 1-10 in the NWC.

Women's Basketball Game Night: WU to face Puget Sound, Linfield
Women's Basketball Game Night: WU to face Puget Sound, Linfield

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's basketball team will look to rebound after a long weekend in eastern Washington, as they face the University of Puget Sound on Friday, Feb. 5 and Linfield College on Saturday, Feb. 6. WU will host UPS on Friday, and then travel to McMinnville, Ore., to face Linfield on Saturday. Both games are set for 6 p.m. (PST).

Bearcats Fall to Whitman, 67-35
Bearcats Fall to Whitman, 67-35

WALLA WALLA, WASH. -- Whitman College held Willamette University to 16.7% field goal shooting and the Missionaries defeated the Bearcats, 67-35, in a Northwest Conference game on Saturday, Jan. 30. Rebecca Sexton was Whitman's top scorer with 16 points, while Michelle Krall added 10 points and 10 rebounds. Alex Zennan (Jr., G, Sammamish, WA/Eastlake HS) paced Willamette with 12 points.

Whitworth Starts Fast, Runs Away from Bearcats
Whitworth Starts Fast, Runs Away from Bearcats

SPOKANE, WASH. -- Whitworth University surged out to a 13-0 lead on its way to a 40-point halftime advantage, and the Pirates went on to defeat visiting Willamette University, 90-39, in a Northwest Conference game on Friday, Jan. 29. Whitworth shot 55.2 from the field and held the Bearcats to 22.2% shooting, as the Pirates advanced to 9-9 on the season, 5-4 in the NWC.

Women's Basketball Game Night: Bearcats Travel East to Face Whitworth and Whitman
Women's Basketball Game Night: Bearcats Travel East to Face Whitworth and Whitman

SALEM, ORE. -- The Willamette University women's basketball team captured its first Northwest Conference win of the season last weekend. The Bearcats will look to build on that success this weekend as they head out on the road to face Whitworth University and Whitman College.

Fujioka Scores 18 Points, but Boxers Defeat Bearcats, 62-47
Fujioka Scores 18 Points, but Boxers Defeat Bearcats, 62-47

FOREST GROVE, ORE. -- Keilyn Fujioka (Jr., Post, Kailua, HI/Iolani School) scored 18 points for Willamette University, but Erica Schultz tallied 18 points and Julianne Erbe added 16 for Pacific University, as the Boxers defeated the Bearcats, 62-47, in a Northwest Conference game on Saturday, Jan. 23. Erbe also grabbed 13 rebounds and Schultz hauled down nine boards to help Pacific achieve the win.