SPOKANE, Wash. – In a contest befitting two nationally-ranked conference rivals, Whitworth held off visiting Puget Sound 83-77 in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game on Friday night at the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

The No. 15/18 Pirates bounced back from their first loss of the season and improved to 15-1 overall and 6-1 in the NWC.  The No. 18/21 Loggers dropped to 13-2, 4-2.

Whitworth led virtually the entire game and went up by as many as 14 points late in the first half.  But Puget Sound fought back to take a 77-76 lead on a basket by Amanda Forshay with 1:21 to play.  Lexxie Zappone then answered with a three-pointer on the Bucs' next possession to take the lead back.  Zappone and KC McConnell combined to go 4-4 at the free throw line in the final 30 seconds to clinch the win.

"We did an outstanding job on the offensive end with 15 assists and only 9 TO's," said Whitworth head coach Helen Higgs.  "It was a great battle between two high caliber teams and it was great to come away with the home court win."

McConnell tied a career-high with 28 points, making 10-15 shots from the field and all seven of her free throws.  Jessica Kramer added 20 points and team-highs of eight rebounds and five assists for the Bucs.  Katara Belton-Sharp finished with ten points, giving Whitworth three players in double figures.

"So many players contributed to the win and McConnell was phenomenal - making great plays throughout the game," Higgs said.  "Zappone made huge plays down the stretch."

Forshay led Puget Sound with 23 points and eight boards.  Emily Sheldon contributed 19 points.

Whitworth posted its best offensive half of the season in the opening frame, making 60% of its shots from the floor (18-30).  The Pirates opened a 41-27 lead with four minutes left in the first half, but Puget Sound closed to within 47-39 at halftime.

The Loggers made several runs at the Pirates in the second half, but Whitworth responded each time.  The Bucs took their largest lead of the second period when Kramer scored for a 69-58 advantage.  Whitworth still led 74-65 with six minutes left when Puget Sound went on a 12-2 run to take their only lead of the second half on Forshay's basket. 

Whitworth finished the game making 49% from the floor, but 50% (8-16) from three-point range.

The Pirates will close out the first half of the Northwest Conference schedule when they host Pacific Lutheran on Saturday night.