Box Score PARKLAND, Wash. – Visiting Whitworth jumped to a big early lead and cruised to a 75-52 Northwest Conference women's basketball win at Pacific Lutheran on Friday night at Olson Auditorium.
The 20th-ranked Pirates improved to 21-3 overall and 12-3 in the NWC behind KC McConnell's 21 points and seven rebounds, setting up a showdown for second place in the conference standings tomorrow night.
McConnell scored twice to help Whitworth open a 10-1 lead in the first five minutes of the game. The Pirates got defensive stops on 11 of PLU's first 13 possessions. McConnell hit a pair of free throws to extend the lead to 17-2 and Kendra Knutsen's basket gave Whitworth its first 20-point lead of the game at 30-10 with just under five minutes to go in the opening half. The Bucs eventually took a 38-12 lead into the locker rooms. It was the lowest scoring half by any of Whitworth's Northwest Conference opponents this season as the Pirates held the Lutes to only 17% (3-18) shooting in the first period.
"Our defensive intensity was outstanding and we created quality opportunities offensively because of it," said Whitworth head coach Helen Higgs. "Our offense also was effective as we made the next pass to get open looks."
The Pirates eventually led by as many as 35 points on several occasions in the second half, the final time coming on Jessica Kramer's jumper with under nine minutes to play that made the score 63-28. PLU was able to close the gap over the final minutes after Whitworth cleared its bench.
Kramer was the only other Pirate in double figures, finishing with ten points. Knutsen and Alexis McLeod each had nine. Whitworth finished the game by making 52% (31-60) of its shots from the floor.
PLU (5-19, 2-13) got 12 points from Bailey Raines off of the bench.
Whitworth heads into the final regular season game of the season tied for second place in the NWC standings with Puget Sound (also 21-3, 12-3). Those two teams meet on Saturday at 4:00 pm.
