by Kelsey Segren, Sports Information Assistant

WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Jordan Smith and Courtney Gray led the Whitworth women's basketball team to a 78-60 victory over Buena Vista University to close the Kim Evanger Raney Classic hosted by Whitman College on Sunday afternoon.

Smith led Whitworth (5-2) with 25 points, her highest mark as a Pirate. The senior went 5-9 from three-point range. 

Gray posted another impressive game, earning her second consecutive double-double with a career-high 15 points in addition to grabbing 11 rebounds this afternoon. Gray totaled 10 points and 11 rebounds against University of Maine-Fort Kent yesterday in the Pirates' first game of the weekend.

Buena Vista drops to 1-10 on the season. The Beavers fell to No. 15 Whitman 72-49 on Saturday evening.

Whitworth got out to a quick start, shooting 5-5 to open a 12-4 lead that included back to back threes from Smith. Smith sent in her fourth of the quarter from beyond the arc (4-4) to bring the Bucs' lead to 25-9 with two minutes left. The Bucs closed the first on a 6-1 run to bring a 31-10 advantage into the second. Smith tied her season-high 16 points after just the first quarter.

Buena Vista went on a 15-0 run over 06:03 in the second, led by ten points from Destiny Einerwold to pull within seven (37-30). Morales made a three for the Pirates to end the Beavers' streak and enter halftime up 40-30. The Beavers held the Pirates to only nine points in the second quarter after allowing 31 in the first.

After scoring only five points over the first half of the third quarter, the Bucs went on a 10-3 run to take a 55-41 lead into the fourth. Whitworth forced seven Buena Vista turnovers in the third.

Morgan Winder put in back to back shots to give the Bucs the 65-49 advantage midway through the fourth. A three pointer from Talia Brandner brought the Pirates' lead back to 20 (78-58) with just under a minute left.

Einerwold led Buena Vista with 20 points on 9-17 shooting. Erin Gerke added 12 points and Jennifer Schneider grabbed 10 rebounds. The Beavers shot 41.4% (24-58) from the floor and 27.8% (5-18) from three-point range.

Whitworth shot 50% (28-56) from the floor and 42.1% (8-19) from beyond the arc on the day. The Pirates outrebounded the Beavers 31-26.

The Bucs take on Walla Walla University tomorrow at 4 p.m. to close a three-game road trip.