TACOMA, Washington – The No. 21/14 Puget Sound women's basketball team resumes its Northwest Conference schedule with fresh legs when the Loggers head to Oregon to tipoff against George Fox (Jan. 6) and Willamette (Jan. 7).
 
Statement trip
Puget Sound proved it belongs in the national ranks during its two-game trip to Texas (Dec. 20-21). The Loggers stunned No. 16/12 Mary Hardin-Baylor, 59-58, when Grace Pytynia-Hillier beat the buzzer with a floater in the lane. The following day, Puget Sound entered the fourth quarter with a 57-54 lead over No. 3/3 Trinity (Tex.), but the Tigers ultimately prevailed, 78-69.
 
Kudos for Kushiyama
Following Trinity vs. Puget Sound game, Trinity head coach Cameron Hill said of Puget Sound head coach Casey Kushiyama: "I think Casey is one of the finest coaches in our game. He does it the right way and his kids compete with incredible belief in what they do. That says a lot about how they have been taught."
 
Among the nation's best
Across the NCAA D-III landscape, Puget Sound ranks 10^th in scoring (77.2), 11^th in steals (15.5), and third in 3-point makes per game (9.9). Katie Minnehan is tied for seventh in the nation for total steals (46).
 
In her bag
Kennedy Brown is the conference's second-leading scorer, averaging 16.5 points per game. She leads the NWC in 3-point makes (30) and 3-point percentage (42.9-percent).
 
Pick your poison
In addition to Brown, three other Loggers rank among the conference's top-25 in scoring. Sophie Nilsson (10.5 ppg), Grace Pytynia-Hillier (9.6 ppg), and Samantha Swartout (9.2 ppg) can go off in any given game.
 
Keep up the pressure
Puget Sound's defense is forcing 24.9 turnovers per game – by far the most in the NWC. No other team in the conference is forcing more than 16.5 turnovers.
 
Scouting George Fox (4-7, 1-1 NWC)
The Bruins enter this weekend with three consecutive non-conference losses. George Fox began its conference slate with a loss against Linfield, followed by a win against Willamette. Nobody on the Bruins averages double-digits in scoring, but Ella Roberts is the team's leading scorer (8.3 ppg). As a team, George Fox shoots 35.1-percent from the floor and 26.0-percent from 3-point range en route to 50.9 points per game.
 
Scouting Willamette (6-6, 1-2 NWC)
The Bearcats have NWC losses against Linfield and George Fox, and their one conference win is against Lewis & Clark. Five of Willamette's six wins this season have come at home (5-1). Carolyn Ho is averaging a team-high 10.8 points per game, and Kaitlin Imai is scoring 8.8 points per game playing exclusively off the bench. Reflected of its record, Willamette scores 61.1 points per game while allowing 61.0.