LINFIELD WILDCATS
GEORGE FOX BRUINS
TEAM-BY-TEAM PREVIEW
LINFIELD WILDCATS
(22-3, 15-1 NWC)
• Linfield set program records for overall wins (22) and NWC victories (15) while capturing its first league title since 1980.
• The Wildcats lead all NWC teams in scoring (68.2 points per game), assists (13.44) and steals (10.12).
• Six Wildcats average more seven points per game in scoring: Eve Burke (11.5), Tana Hoekema (9.5), Amelia Solt (9.5), Allie Mead (9.4), Miki Vermeulen (7.8) and Skylar Willey (7.4).
• Playmaker Allie Mead leads all NWC players in both assists (4.4 per game) and steals (2.6).
• Eve Burke (.368) and Amelia Solt (.346) rank second and third, respectively, in the NWC in 3-point field goal percentage.
• Seniors Eve Burke and Miki Vermeulen each competed in their 100th career games last Saturday.
WHITMAN BLUES (18-7,
13-3 NWC)
• Led by coach Michelle Ferenz, Whitman is making its 15th consecutive NWC Tournament appearance. In her 24th season, Ferenz is the NWC’s longest tenured basketball coach.
• The Blues enter the NWC Tournament having won 10 of their last 11 contests. Their only loss in that span came by one point February 20 at Puget Sound.
• Holly Morgan paces the Blues in scoring, averaging 12.6 points while Emma Lena Baker adds 11.4 points per contest.
• Briana Andrade is Whitman’s top rebounder, pulling down 5.8 rebounds and chipping in 9.0 points per outing.
• Whitman owns the NWC’s best turnover margin at 3.12. The Blues force 17.6 miscues per game while giving the ball up just 14.5 times.
PUGET SOUND LOGGERS (20-5,
13-3 NWC)
• Puget Sound recorded its 20th win last weekend, marking the program’s fourth 20-win season in the last five years.
• The Loggers are making their seventh straight appearance in the NWC Tournament under coach Casey Kushiyama.
• Carmen Cruz leads all Puget Sound scorers, averaging 12.8 points while also adding and 4.1 rebounds per game.
• Autumn Hill leads the NWC in blocked shots (2.2/game) and field goal percentage (.619).
• Puget Sound defefeated Pomona-Pitzer, the SCIAC,’s No. 3 team, to open the season.
• The Loggers finished 10-1 at home - their best since 201617 when they went 15-2 inside Memorial Fieldhouse.
GEORGE FOX BRUINS (14-11,
10-6 NWC)
• The Bruins recorded 10 NWC wins for second consecutive season and first time since 2020.
• Four different Bruins, Hanne Hopkins, Mia Skoro, Kylie Ritter, and Sophia Hardy, earned NWC Student-Athlete of the Week honors.
• Kylie Ritter had 28-point, 10-rebound game against Whitworth, the most by a Bruin since Tavin Headings in the 2019 NCAA Tournament.
• Hanne Hopkins averages 4.0 assists per game, the most by a Bruin since 2016.
• Finishing 10-6 in NWC play, the Bruins went 10-0 against teams below them in the standings, but 0-6 versus teams ahead of them.
SCHEDULE
FRIDAY SEMIFINALS
Semifinal 1, 5:30 p.m.
Linfield vs. George Fox
Semifinal 2, 7:30 p.m.
Whitman vs. Puget Sound
SATURDAY CHAMPIONSHIP
Semifinal Winners, 5 p.m.
NWC STANDINGS
FACILITY INFORMATION
In accordance with Northwest Conference policy, artificial noisemakers are not permitted.
Excellent sportsmanship is expected from participants and spectators associated with all teams.
Restrooms are located in the Paul Durham Foyer on either side of the Athletics Hall of Fame and Hall of Champions.
TOURNAMENT
Miki Vermeulen
Emma Lena Baker
Carmen Cruz
Kylie Ritter