SPOKANE, Wash. - The Whitworth women's basketball season will get take a dramatic turn with the change to 2009. The Pirates will open their Northwest Conference schedule on Friday, January 2nd at home against George Fox, followed by another home contest the following night against Pacific (Ore.). The games will be Whitworth's first since a 77-46 win at Walla Walla University on December 14th. The Pirates concluded their non-conference schedule with a 6-3 record, 5-1 against NCAA Division III teams. Included in that victory total is a win over then 9th-ranked Washington University.
The Pirates: It's been a total team effort for the Pirates so far this season, especially with returning All-NWC forward Alida Bower (Sr., F, Onalaska, Wash.) hampered by a knee injury. Whitworth has improved its defense and rebounding from a year ago. The Pirates lead the NWC in steals per game (12.0) and are second in overall turnover margin (+5.3). The Bucs, who ranked last in the NWC in overall rebound margin last season, are currently ranked third this year (+3.1). NWC Coaches Poll: Whitworth finished second in the 2008 NWC coaches preseason poll. The Pirates finished just behind Whitman in the voting. Bombs Away: Whitworth leads the NWC in three-pointers made per game this season. The Pirates have been able to drain 7.89 shots from behind the arc per contest. And they are hitting at a high percentage as well, tied for second in the conference in three-point percentage (32.9). A big reason has been the shooting of Natalie Orrell (Jr., G, Wenatchee, Wash.) and Cassie Pilkinton (Jr., F, Chelan, Wash.). Orrell leads the NWC in three-point percentage (43.8%) and is third on the team in scoring average (11.8 points per game). Pilkinton, a transfer from North Idaho College, is second in the conference in three-point percentage (43.2%) and is third in three-pointers per game (2.11). She leads the Bucs in scoring average this season (12.8 ppg). Leah the Leader: Leah Pomante (Jr., G, Colbert, Wash.) is having a breakthrough season at point guard. She is second on the team in scoring average (12.3 ppg) and ranks fourth in the NWC in assists per game (3.71) and second in steals per game (also 3.71). The Opponents: George Fox is having another great season under coach Scott Rueck. The Bruins are 8-0 and ranked 19th in the latest D3hoops.com top 25, despite graduating all five starters from last seasons co-NWC champions. GFU continues to play its customary stingy defense, leading the conference in points allowed (50.9 ppg) and scoring margin (+19.4). Freshman guard Keisha Gordon leads the conference in scoring average (16.7 ppg) while making 40% of her three-point tries. Kristen Shielee, a 6'4" post, leads the NWC in rebounds (11.1 rpg) and blocked shots (4.9 bpg). Last season the Bruins swept Whitworth, winning 66-49 in Spokane and 69-45 in Newberg, Oregon. Pacific (Ore.) has struggled to find its groove so far this winter. The Boxers are 1-6 overall, dropping games at Whittier (65-55) and at Occidental (66-55) in a recent trip to California. Rochelle Reeves, a transfer guard from Clackamas CC, leads Pacific in scoring this season (13.4 ppg) and in three-point shooting (35.7%). Last season Whitworth defeated the Boxers 66-53 at home before falling to Pacific 68-66 in Forest Grove. The Coach: Helen Higgs continues her 15th season at Whitworth as the winningest women's basketball coach in school history. She has a record of 220-163 during her tenure as the Pirate head coach. Her current winning percentage of .574 is also the best all-time among Pirate head coaches. She has been named Northwest Conference Coach of the Year three times. 2008-09 Women's Basketball Schedule Go to Athletics Home Page > Women's Basketball > Sports Releases > |
