Box Score TACOMA, Wash. – Puget Sound clinched second place in the Northwest Conference women's basketball standings and the number two seed in the upcoming NWC tournament with an 82-78 win over the visiting Pirates on Saturday night.
The 25th-ranked Loggers improved to 22-3 overall and 13-3 in the NWC after ending a six-game losing streak to Whitworth. The Pirates dropped to 21-4, 12-4 and finish third in the league standings.
Tonight's result means that these two teams will meet again in the same building on Thursday night at 7:00 pm in one of the NWC semifinals. Top-seeded George Fox will host fourth-place Whitman in the other semifinal. The winners will meet at the location of the highest-remaining seed next Saturday night in the NWC tournament championship.
Whitworth grabbed an early six-point lead at 17-11 on a basket by Faith Emerson. The Loggers scored seven straight points, grabbing an 18-17 lead on a layup by Emily Sheldon. The teams traded leads over the next six minutes before Puget Sound closed the half on another run that gave the Loggers a 36-30 lead at the break.
Olivia Roberts hit a three-pointer to stretch the UPS lead to 56-46 with 11 minutes left in the game. The Loggers eventually stretched the advantage to 65-51 after Amanda Forshay converted a three-point play.
Still trailing by 12 points with just over two minutes to play, Whitworth rallied behind the Kendra Knutsen. Knutsen hit a basket to get the Pirates within ten, then made another basket to pull the Bucs within six (76-70) with 42 seconds left. Katara Belton-Sharp nailed a three to get Whitworth within five (79-74) with 21 seconds left. But UPS made 3-4 from the free throw line in the final seconds to hold off the Pirates, despite two late baskets from Jessica Kramer.
Sheldon scored 17 points for UPS while Forshay added 16 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Katy Ainslie finished with a dozen points as UPS made 43% of its shots from the floor. The Loggers took advantage of their free throws, making 17 of 21 (82%).
Knutsen surpassed her previous career high (14) with 21 points. KC McConnell added 16 points and nine rebounds, while Kramer finished with 14 points. Whitworth made 38% from the floor and struggled from three-point range (2-11).
