DeLong Chosen Honorable Mention All-NWC for Second Consecutive Year

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

SALEM, ORE. -- Willamette University women's basketball point guard Jojo DeLong (Sr., PG, Santa Clarita, CA/Canyon HS) has been named Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference for the 2014-15 season in voting by the NWC head coaches. It is the second year in a row that DeLong has received Honorable Mention All-NWC recognition.

The head coaches selected a total of 16 players for All-NWC honors. Six athletes were chosen for the First Team, with five athletes named to the Second Team and five players earning Honorable Mention.

Willamette finished the year with a 7-18 overall record, including 2-14 in the Northwest Conference. The Bearcats lost six games by seven points or less, including five games in NWC action. Willamette concluded the year with an 80-75 overtime victory against Pacific University during Senior Night on Saturday, Feb. 21.

Honorable Mention All-Northwest Conference

Jojo DeLong (Sr., PG) averaged 12.4 points per game on her way to earning Honorable Mention All-NWC status for the second consecutive season. She led the NWC with 4.3 assists per game, and tied for Willamette's team lead with 0.8 steals per game.

DeLong connected on 80.6% of her free throw attempts (54 of 67) to rank fourth in the conference. She was second on the WU roster with 56 three-point baskets. She achieved double-digit scoring in 16 games an registered at least four assists 15 times.

She scored a career-high 28 points against Wheaton College (Mass.) on Dec. 19, 2014. She contributed a career-high 10 assists versus Concordia (Ore.) on Nov. 20, 2013 and against California Institute of Technology on Nov. 21, 2014. Her career-high for rebounds was 10, set this season in the win over Caltech.

"We are so proud of what Jojo has accomplished in her career here at Willamette," Head Coach Peg Swadener said. "While her leadership and dedication to her teammates and this program go far beyond any award that she could receive, it is a great honor for her to be recognized by our conference foes. She is an amazing student-athlete and one that will truly be missed next year."

DeLong finished among Willamette's career leaders in several statistical categories. She is the all-time leader with 544 three-point attempts and ranks third with 165 successful three-point shots. She holds fourth place with 338 assists and is 11th with 872 points. She earned 105 career steals and 314 career rebounds, while starting all 100 games the past four years.

She averaged 8.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game during her career. She shot 76.7% at the free throw line, hitting 115 of 150 career attempts.

Northwest Conference Special Awards

Senior guard Heather Johns from Whitman College selected as the Northwest Conference Women's Basketball Player of the Year. George Fox University Head Coach Michael Meek was chosen NWC Women's Basketball Coach of the Year.