This Pilot in the Spotlight goes to the freshman forward Alex Fowler, who has twice been named West Coast Conference Player of the Week for women's basketball, earning the honor on Nov. 25 and also Jan. 20. She is the second Pilot from Australia to receive this honor in the 2019-2020 season so far as the team is 11-7 overall and 4-3 in conference play.
So far this season, the freshman averages 17.4 points per game on 55.6% shooting. She averages 7.9 rebounds per game with a 69.5% free throw percentage.
“UP basketball here is amazing, they are like my second family,” Fowler said. “Whenever I need anything I know I can rely on everyone to help support me in whatever way, whether it be with schoolwork or basketball-wise. I love how competitive our team is when we are scrimmaging we always are helping each other to work harder.”
Fowler first started playing basketball in 2007 with two of her triplet sisters when their parents wanted them to be involved in a team sport for the experience.
“My sisters and I loved playing basketball together, although there were times we would think we'd know better than the other and yell,” Fowler said. “But we all really loved playing together on the same team even though sometimes we would get competitive with one another.”
Little did they know, Fowler would eventually play for the Australian National U-19 women’s basketball team and become an immediate impact player at the collegiate level. The freshman from Australia fits right into the UP basketball community.
“Obviously it's amazing having two other Australians in the team, but everyone has been so welcoming and real easy to get to know and understand,” Fowler said. “It felt so easy to become friends with everyone.”
Even before stepping into the Chiles Center as a forward, Fowler’s arrival was exciting for her fellow Aussie Pilot, sophomore Haylee Andrews, and the new head coach, Michael Meek.
“Alex Fowler, a freshman that we have this year, has done really well,” Meek said in a pre-season interview.
As they enter the middle of conference play, Fowler in her freshman season is finding her place within the UP basketball community, on and off the court.
“I look forward to getting to learn a lot this year just from all my teammates as well as my coaching staff,” Fowler said. “Obviously with it being my first year, I'm adjusting to the different style of play as well as the reffing. I'm excited to see where we head this season.”
Fowler and Portland women’s basketball are back in action Thursday, Jan. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Chiles Center, taking on the Loyola Marymount Lions.
Morgan Wahler is a sports reporter for The Beacon. She can be reached at wahler20@up.edu.
