SALEM, Ore. – Kendra Lahue came off of the bench to lead Whitworth to an 88-46 win at Willamette in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game on Friday night at Cone Field House.

The Pirates never trailed in the game and improved to 8-9 overall, 4-4 in the NWC.  The Bearcats fell to 1-15, 0-7.

It took Whitworth just over five minutes to open up its first ten-point lead.  Emily Guthrie hit a three for a 5-0 Pirate lead and Kayla Johnson's basket made the score 15-5.  Taylor Taylor increased the lead to 17-5 and Whitworth was on the way to an easy victory.  Johnson scored on Whitworth's final possession to increase the Bucs' lead to 34-19 at halftime.

Whitworth never let Willamette have a chance in the second half, opening the period on a 14-2 run to pull out to a 48-21 advantage.  Jamie Lyons, Lauren Picha and Johnson each scored a pair of baskets during that opening run of the half.

Lahue made 5-10 from the field, including a pair of three-pointers, to surpass her previous career-high of 12 points in a game.

The Pirates made 44% (31-71) of their shots from the field, including 42% (10-24) from three-point range.  Whitworth dominated the backboards, outrebounding Willamette 51-33, including a 18-8 edge in offensive rebounds.

Johnson added 14 points and Picha scored 13 for the Pirates.  Lyons finished with 11 points to give Whitworth four players in double figures.  Lyons led the Bucs with eight rebounds, while Picha and Johnson had five assists each.

Kaileigh Westerman led Willamette with ten points.

Whitworth will return to Oregon next weekend when the Pirates take on top-ten rated foes George Fox and Lewis & Clark.