TACOMA, Washington – It has been over one month since its last official game, but the Puget Sound women's basketball team returns to Northwest Conference action this Friday and Saturday when the Loggers host Willamette (Jan. 7) and Lewis & Clark (Jan. 8).
 
Around the conference
The Loggers (9-1) have the second-best overall record in the Northwest Conference, trailing Whitman (10-1) by just a half game. Puget Sound, Whitman, and Pacific are each 2-0 in NWC games. That trio also represents the top three highest scoring teams in the NWC.
 
What can Brown do for you?
The Loggers began the NWC slate with home wins over Linfield and George Fox (Dec. 3-4), and Kennedy Brown was subsequently named the Logger of the Week following both games. The sophomore guard was Puget Sound's leading scorer in both games, netting 17 points against the Wildcats, and 23 against the Bruins.
 
Level up
The Loggers played in an exhibition game at NCAA D-II Seattle Pacific (Dec. 18), and the Falcons came away with a 66-56 win. Georgia Lavinder scored 15 points in 15 minutes, while Jordyn Reverman came down with a team-high six rebounds.
 
Creating chaos
Puget Sound's high-pressure defense is leading to 15.2 steals per game. The Loggers are the only team averaging more than 10 steals per game.
 
Fire away
The Loggers by far attempt the most 3-pointers in the NWC, averaging just over 32 attempts per game. Sophie Nilsson paces the Loggers from distance by shooting 19-for-56 (33.9 percent) so far this season. Nilsson is also the conference's second-leading scorer (17.6 points per game).
 
Scouting Willamette (6-5, 1-1 NWC)
The Bearcats enter this weekend with two losses in their last three outings. Willamette and Puget Sound share common opponents in Multnomah and Sagehens – which represent two wins for both the Bearcats and Loggers. Carolyn Ho is Willamette's leading scorer with 9.4 points per game, and Ashlyn Ascuena-Mercil has a team-high 6.2 rebounds per game. Willamette is shooting 39.0-percent from the floor, and 27.0-percent from 3-point range.
 
Scouting Lewis & Clark (7-5, 2-1 NWC)
The Pioneers had a four-game winning streak snapped by George Fox this week (Jan. 4) – an overtime loss by the score of 67-62. Lewis & Clark has a won over Multnomah, and losses against Walla Walla and Cal Lutheran. Puget Sound this season has wins over George Fox, Multnomah, Walla Walla, and Cal Lutheran. Delsie Johnson leads the Pioneers in scoring with 14.5 points per game, and Eva Richards averages 12.5. Johnson averages 8.6 rebounds, which ranks third in the NWC. Lewis & Clark shoots 38.6-percent from the floor, and 31.0-percent from distance.