SPOKANE, Wash. – KC McConnell scored 21 points to lead Whitworth to a 67-42 win over visiting Lewis & Clark in the Northwest Conference women's basketball opener for both teams on Friday night.

McConnell's total was a season high for the Pirates (2-2 overall, 1-0 NWC).

The game was never in doubt as Whitworth jumped to an 11-0 lead and led by as many as 20 points (25-5) in the opening quarter.  McConnell and Callie Harwood each had eight points to lead the Pirates in the opening stanza. 

"Getting off to a fast start was big for us because of how we came out in our last game (a loss at CWU)," said Whitworth head coach Helen Higgs.  "Getting things going early really helped our confidence."

It didn't get much better for the Pioneers (0-7, 0-1) in the second quarter as Whitworth outscored L&C 19-11 to take a 44-17 lead at the break.  McConnell had 14 points by halftime and the Pirates shot 56% (18-32) in the opening half.  The Bucs were 3-4 from three-point range and held the Pioneers to only 24% (6-25) in the first half.

Whitworth continued to pull away in the third quarter, building a lead as large as 34 points after McConnell's three-pointer increased the advantage to 59-25.

Both teams substituted liberally in the fourth quarter and L&C outscored the Pirates 14-6 in the final stanza.

McConnell finished 9-16 from the floor and added five rebounds and three assists.  Faith Emerson added nine points and led the Bucs with six boards.  Harwood and Grace Douglas each scored eight.

"Our players were really focused on getting KC the ball in the right situation tonight," Higgs said.

Miyah Leith led L&C with 11 points while Sara Hogman came off of the bench for nine.    Whitworth finished with a 45-34 edge on the backboards.