SPOKANE, Wash. – Balanced scoring and strong defense led Whitworth to a 66-39 win over visiting Pacific Lutheran in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game on Friday night at the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

The Pirates improved to 10-6 overall and 5-2 in the NWC while the Lutes dropped to 6-10, 2-5.

Faith Emerson led Whitworth with 18 points while Callie Harwood and KC McConnell scored 13 apiece.  The Bucs also held PLU to only 30.8% shooting from the field, including 16.7% from three-point range.

Whitworth never trailed, jumping out to an 8-0 lead in the first quarter.  PLU managed to cut the lead to 11-7 at the end of the first and tied the game 14-14 early in the second.  But the Pirates closed the second quarter on a 15-4 run to take a 29-18 lead into halftime.  Emerson, Harwood and McConnell all scored baskets in that final run.

Harwood's three-pointer extended Whitworth's lead to 43-25 midway through the third quarter.  Briann Maley then scored to give the Pirates a 53-32 lead just before the end of the third.

The Pirates led by 20 or more points throughout the fourth period.  Their final lead was their largest of the game.

Emerson also led Whitworth in rebounding with nine boards.  Whitworth finished with a 42-36 advantage in rebounding.

The Pirates shot 44% (29-66) from the floor, 31% (5-16) from beyond the arc.  They also scored off of turnovers, forcing 25 giveaways by PLU.

No Lute reached double figures in scoring.  Ionna Price came off of the bench to lead the team with nine points.  She also led her squad with six rebounds. 

Whitworth returns to action on Saturday by hosting Puget Sound (10-6, 5-2) at 4:00 pm.