by Kelsey Segren, Sports Information Assistant

SALEM, Ore. – Quincy McDeid scored 26 points to lead the visiting Whitworth Pirates to a 80-75 win over the Willamette Bearcats in Saturday evening's Northwest Conference women's basketball game.

Whitworth (12-9, 5-7 NWC) splits the season series with Willamette (11-10, 5-7) after the Bearcats won in Spokane earlier in the year. McDeid's 26 points ties a career-high for the freshman. She made four threes and shot 10-12 from the free throw line.    

Sydney Abbott earned her first career double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds. Megan Dorney also set a career-best with 21 points in her fifth game back from injury. Dorney shot 9-12 from the floor and added nine rebounds.  

The Pirates held a 16-15 lead after the first quarter, led by McDeid's eight points, including two three-pointers in the period.

The Bearcats and Pirates alternated the lead through the first few minutes of the second, but Whitworth began to pull ahead after Abbott's game-tying layup brought the score to 20-20. Dorney closed the half on a jumper as the Pirates entered the break up 33-26.  

McDeid extended Whitworth's lead to 39-31 with her third three-pointer two and a half minutes into the third. The Bearcats cut the deficit to 41-38 after a basket from Lucy Morrill. A 7-0 run brought the Pirate advantage back out to ten (54-44) to close the period. McDeid hit another three to open the run followed by layups from Abbott and Dorney.  

Ava Kitchin kept the Bearcats in the game, scoring seven points in less than two minutes as Willamette trailed 62-57 with six minutes left in regulation. Kitchin totaled 15 points in the quarter. The teams combined for nine points over the next 3:40, all on free throws. Talia Brandner's three with 35 seconds left brought the score to 72-65. McDeid shot 8-8 from the free throw line in the final 30 seconds to hold off the Bearcats.

Kitchin finished with 21 points and 10 rebounds off the bench to lead the Bearcats. Kassin Hopkins added 16 points and Morrill totaled 13 points. Ashlyn Ascuena-Mercil grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.

Whitworth shot 40.9% (27-66) from the floor, 38.5% (5-13) from beyond the arc and 75% (21-28) from the free throw line. The Pirates nine turnovers is their lowest total of the season. Willamette shot 43.8% (28-64) from the field, 24% (6-25) from three and made 13 of 17 free throw attempts. Both teams totaled 40 rebounds.  

Up next, Whitworth closes the NWC home schedule with games against Pacific (Ore.) and George Fox.