For the second time in four years, the Pioneer women's basketball team began their year with an exhibition game against Oregon State in Corvallis. Going up against a bigger, stronger Beaver squad, the Pioneers held their own, giving the first indication that this was a team that was focused on doing what it would take to win.

The Pioneers began the season strong, winning their first official contest against Haverford, in a 91-57 blowout. Their only two losses in the opening games of the season came to a pair of nationally-ranked NAIA oponents, including a tight game against NAIA I's 12-th ranked Lewis-Clark State. The Pioneers also swept through the Colorado College Thanksgiing Invitational, winning the tournament with guard Crystal Castle (senior, Rocklin, Calif.) taking home MVP honors.

The Pioneers opened the Conference season with a stunning loss at the hands of the Pacific Boxers. The Pioneers rebounded in their second game of the year, defeating Pacific Lutheran in overtime 70-67. The Pioneers made a statement a week later, defeating the Whitworth Pirates in Spokane 70-55.

In the second half of the season, things really began to click for the Pioneer team as they rattled off a seven-game win streak to move into third place in the Conference. Huge home victories in that span over Whitman and Whitworth put the Pioneers in control of their own post-season destiny. It was the sixth victory, however, that cemented the Pioneers as a contender. On senior night, the Pioneers hosted the Conference-leading George Fox Bruins, and handed the #12 team in DIII basketball a 45-35 loss. The victory for the Pioneers ended a string of 27 straight losses to the Bruins, with their last victory over George Fox coming February 15, 1994.

With the Pioneers earning a spot in the post-season, headed to Newberg to take on George Fox again, this time on the Bruins home court. George Fox gt off to a hot start, leading 36-23, but the Pioneers never gave in. They chipped away at the lead, getting to within three points with less than 20 seconds remaining. Allison Farr (senior, Lakeport, Calif.) hit a three pointer with 12 seconds remaining to tie the game. Strong defense by Kim Kittelll (sophomore, Tillamook, Ore.) kept the Bruins from getting off a shot in those final 12 seconds, sending the game to overtime. The Bruins scored the first basket of OT, causing the Pioneers to have to play catch-up the entire extra frame, ultimately handing the Pioneers a 76-71 loss and eliminating them from the tournament.

Crystal Castle earned her second-straight First Team All-Northwest Conference honor. Castle was second in the Conference in scoring (15.2 ppg) and third in rebounding (8.3 rpg). Castle led the Conference in double-doubles with nine. Allison Farr, after previously twice being named an honorable mention, finally earned a well-deserved Second Team All-Northwest Conference designation. Farr averaged 13.0 points per game and 5.3 rebounds. She was third in the Conference in blocked shots with 27.

Castle and Farr also left their mark on the Pioneer record books. They were the seventh and eighth players to score 1,000 or more career points as a Pioneer. Castle ends her career fourth on the career scoring list (1,257 pts), fourth in rebounding (619), and sixth in steals (179). Farr is sixth in scoring (1,129 pts) and second in blocking (108). She also surpassed 500 career rebounds, ending with 518.

Point guard Kim Kittell received an honorable mention in All-Conference voting. She led the NWC in assists (115) and steals (62) and ranked second in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.72). Kittell was among the top-100 NCAA III players in the nation in assists (69th) and assist-to-turnover ratio (39th).

Click here to find individual game recaps and other news from the 2007-08 season.