by Kelsey Segren, Sports Information Assistant

SPOKANE, Wash. – The Whitworth Pirates opened the season with a victory, defeating visiting Pacific Lutheran 78-76 in Friday evening's Northwest Conference women's basketball contest.

Tomorrow's tipoff between Whitworth and Pacific Lutheran has been moved to 3:00 p.m. See the Whitworth women's basketball schedule for links to live stats and video.

Talia Brandner scored nine points in the final two minutes, including a pair of three-pointers to help Whitworth (1-0, 1-0 NWC) pull off the comeback after the Pirates trailed by double-digits a minute into the fourth quarter. Pacific Lutheran (0-3, 0-3 NWC) nearly sent the game into overtime, putting the ball in the hands of Emma Janousek, who scored 23 points on the night for the Lutes, but her shot bounced off the rim and the Pirates held on to the 78-76 victory.

The Pirates struggled to get the offensive going, turning the ball over three times and missing their first five shots in the opening three and a half minutes before Megan Dorney's jump shot got the Pirates on the scoreboard. Down 14-2, Whitworth went on a 29-8 run to go up 31-22 with 04:38 to go in the second period, which included a six-minute PLU scoring drought. Dorney scored 10 points over the first two periods to help Whitworth enter the break with the 36-30 lead.

Janousek made three layups in under a minute, followed by a three-pointer from Toni Thibert to tie the game at 41-41 three minutes into the third period. The Lutes took a 45-43 lead after a steal and another layup by Janousek. PLU shot 66.7% (10-15) in the quarter, boosted by Janousek's 11 points to go into the final period up 54-53.  

PLU scored the first 10 points of the fourth quarter before Keara Simpson ended the run with a layup to bring Whitworth back within single digits (64-55). Brandner's jumper cut the margin to 68-64 with 03:24 to go. PLU and Whitworth were tied at 70-70 after another Brandner basket with 01:20 on the clock. Dorney made four free throws in the next 30 seconds to put the Pirates up 74-70 with under a minute left to play. Brandner continued to hit the big shots, making a three-pointer with under 30 seconds to go for the 77-72 Pirate advantage.

Whitworth left the door open, missing three of four free throws with under 20 seconds to go. Janousek scored four more points down the stretch, nearly sending the game to overtime as her last second layup bounced off the rim.

Four Pirates reached double digit scoring, led by Dorney's 18 points. Quincy McDeid scored 16 points with a team-leading nine rebounds. Brandner added 14 points and Macey Morales finished with 10. Whitworth outrebounded PLU 41-27 including a 12-5 advantage on the offensive boards.

Janousek led the Lutes with 23 points and seven rebounds. Thibert scored 17 points and Madison Salisbury added 10. PLU shot 50.8% (31-61) from the field, but struggled from the free throw line, making only 56.3% (9-16) of attempts.