Swadener Chosen as the WHoopDirt Division III Coach of the Week

By Robert McKinney, Assistant Athletics Director, Communications

SALEM, Ore. -- Willamette University Head Women's Basketball Coach Peg Swadener has been selected as the WHoopDirt Division III Coach of the Week for games played between Monday, Jan. 22 and Sunday, Jan. 28, as chosen by whoopdirt.com. Swadener guided the Bearcats to a 3-0 record during the week, with a 71-58 win against Lewis & Clark College on Jan. 22, a 67-62 win over #22-ranked Whitman College on Jan. 26, and a 66-47 rout of Whitworth University on Jan. 27.

The Bearcats improved to 12-7 on the season. In the Northwest Conference, Willamette is 9-1 and tied for first place. The Bearcats received votes in this week's D3hoops.com Women's Top 25 Poll, but did not move into the Top 25. Whitman fell out of the poll.

In the win at L&C, the Bearcats shot 50.0% from the field (29 of 58), while earning 10 steals and three blocked shots on defense. Elyse Waldal (Jr., F, Snohomish, WA/Glacier Peak HS/Linfield University) led Willamette with 18 points, while Carolyn Ho (Sr., G, Parker, CO/Ponderosa HS) grabbed eight rebounds.

Willamette also shot well at 52.3% (22 of 44) in the win over Whitman. WU also produced eight steals and another three blocked shots. Ho topped the offensive chart for the Bearcats with 21 points while hitting 9 of 11 field goal attempts.

Waldal tallied a team-high 13 points and Kaitlin Imai (So., G, Santa Cruz, CA/Scotts Valley HS) added 12 points in Willamette's victory over Whitworth. The Bearcats scored on eight 3-point baskets and went 8 for 9 (88.9%) at the free throw line. Willamette earned two blocked shots, giving the team eight blocked shots during the week.

The Bearcats will return to action on Friday, Feb. 2, when they are scheduled to host Pacific Lutheran University at Cone Field House. Game time is set for 6 p.m. PST. Willamette defeated the Lutes, 62-47, on Jan. 6 in Tacoma, Washington.