WBKS: NWC POLL - Bruins a Heavy Favorite to Win 4th Straight Conference Crown

NWC Pre-Season Coaches' Poll

NEWBERG, Ore. - Defending NCAA Division III women's basketball national champion George Fox University is a heavy pre-season favorite to win its fourth straight Northwest Conference crown in 2009-10, according to a poll of the conference's nine coaches as announced recently by the league office.

The Bruins rolled to a 16-0 record in the conference and a 32-0 overall record on the way to last season's national title.  George Fox picked up eight first-place votes and tallied 88 of 90 possible points in the poll. 

George Fox will have to overcome the graduation of NWC Player of the Year and Second Team All-American Kristen Shielee at center and the loss of First Team All-NWC guard Sage Indendi, but have Second Team All-NWC guard Keisha Gordon, forward Elise Kuenzi, and point guard B.B. Gardner back as starters.  Head coach Scott Rueck returns for his 14th season with a record of 260-85 (.754) after winning NCAA Division III National, West Region, and NWC Coach of the Year honors.

Puget Sound, which shared first place in the conference with George Fox in 2006-07 and 2007-08, is second in the poll with the final first-place vote and 68 points.  The Loggers return First Team All-NWC guard Claire Ely.

Whitman College is third in the poll with 61 points.  The Missionaries welcome back First Team All-NWC guard Hilary White.

Pacific University and Whitworth University are tied for fourth in the poll with 49 points each.  The Boxers surprised many last season by making the NWC Tournament and welcome back First Team All-NWC guard Rochelle Reeves.  The Pirates will look to Second Team All-NWC forward Cassie Pilkinton to lead them this winter.

Lewis & Clark College with 38 points is sixth in the poll.  The Pioneers will rely on honorable mention All-NWC forward Margaret Dowling to lead the team back to the conference playoffs.

Pacific Lutheran University is seventh with 31 points.  The Lutes will have to overcome the graduation of their top three scorers from last season, including Second Team All-NWC post Emily Voorhies. 

Willamette University with 17 points and Linfield College with 13 are eighth and ninth in the poll  respectively.  Both will have to overcome significant losses - First Team All-NWC guard Molly Fillion for the Bearcats and longtime head coach Robyn Stewart for the Wildcats.

The Northwest Conference will use a conference tournament, comprised of the top four teams in the final regular season standings, to decide the automatic (Pool A) bid to the NCAA tournament.

George Fox opens its season on Tuesday, Nov. 17, with a road game at Corban College at 5:30 p.m.  The Bruins then play their home opener on Friday, Nov. 20, against Concordia University-Portland at 6:00 p.m. as part of a doubleheader with the Bruin men's team, which plays Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges at 8:00 p.m.