Four Bearcats are Named Academic All-District in Women's Basketball

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Four members of the Willamette University women's basketball team have been chosen for the 2022-23 NCAA Division III Academic All-District Women's Basketball Team, as determined by the College Sports Communicators (CSC, formerly CoSIDA). Willamette's Academic All-District selections were Claire Bonnet (Sr., G, Boise, ID/Boise HS), Ashley Collins (Jr., P, Chino Hills, CA/Chino Hills HS), Sami Riggs (Sr., G, La Verne, CA/Bonita HS), and Jasmine Shigeno (Jr., G, Brush Prairie, WA/Hockinson HS).

All of the Academic All-District selections are eligible to be chosen for the College Sports Communicators NCAA Division III Academic All-America Team. Players nominated for the CSC All-District Team were starters or key reserves with cumulative grade point averages of 3.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Each nominated student-athlete was at their current college or university for at least one academic year.

Willamette finished the 2022-23 regular season with a 14-11 overall record and a 9-7 record in the Northwest Conference. Willamette achieved a 13-0 record when holding opponents to fewer than 60 points.

The Bearcats took fourth place in the NWC standings and qualified for the four-team NWC Tournament. Willamette will compete in the semifinals against Whitman College on Friday, Feb. 24 at 1 p.m. (PST) in Walla Walla, Washington. The NWC Women's Championship game will be played on Saturday, Feb. 25 at 5 p.m.

NCAA Division III Academic All-District

Claire Bonnet (Sr., G) has started all 25 games in 2022-23 and is averaging 4.3 points per game. She scored 11 points against Pacific Lutheran in a road victory on Jan. 13, 2023. Bonnet set a career high with six rebounds versus Western Oregon on Nov. 14, 2021. During her career, she has played in 61 games with 38 starts. She has achieved a 3.81 cumulative GPA while majoring in Biology with minors in Anthropology.

Ashley Collins (Jr., P) has played in 22 of 25 games this season. She has contributed 3.8 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. In her career, she has seen action in 43 games. Collins earned a career-high 11 rebounds versus Montana State University-Northern on Nov. 20, 2022 and grabbed nine boards against Alma College (Mich.) on Dec. 30, 2022. She scored a career-high 10 points versus Whitworth on Jan. 28, 2022. Collins is majoring in Civic Communication and Media and owns a 3.78 cumulative GPA.

Sami Riggs (Sr., G) has averaged 9.2 points per game and ranks eighth in the NWC with 47.2% field goal shooting. She also has provided the Bearcats with 4.0 rebounds, 2.0 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.7 blocks per game. Riggs has started all 25 games this season. She registered a career-high 19 points against Linfield University on Jan. 31, 2023. She has scored 18 points five times in her career. Her career totals include 74 games played and 55 starts, with 673 points and 248 rebounds. Riggs has a 3.62 cumulative GPA and is majoring in Exercise and Health Science.

Jasmine Shigeno (Jr., G) has competed in 19 of 25 games this season and is averaging 2.9 points per game. She supplied the Bearcats with a career-high 12 points and four 3-pointers in a 69-54 win versus George Fox on Jan. 27, 2023. She is fourth on the team with 18 three-pointers this year and is a solid 3-point threat. Shigeno has scored at least one 3-pointer in nine games this year, including a string of five consecutive games. She is working on a double major in Public Health and Biology. She has earned a 3.79 cumulative GPA.