Box Score WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Visiting Whitworth could not overcome a 14-point deficit in a 69-63 loss at Whitman in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game on Tuesday night.
The Pirates (7-11 overall, 2-7 NWC) got within four points on two occasions in the final minutes. The 6th-ranked Blues (17-1, 9-0) survived their closest NWC game of the season.
Whitworth started cold, allowing Whitman to lead from the game's first minutes. Quincy McDeid's three-pointer pulled the Pirates to within 8-5 and the Pirates were still within 12-9 after a layup from Genevieve Symons. Sydney Abbot hit a three-pointer to spark a 9-0 run for the Blues to end the quarter. When Kaylie McCracken scored at the buzzer, Whitman had taken a 21-9 advantage. Whitworth was only 4 of 16 from the field in the opening period.
McCracken scored again halfway through the second quarter to give the Blues their largest lead at 26-12. While the shots still were not falling for Whitworth, the Bucs began to get to the free throw line. The Pirates were able to pull back to within 31-23 at halftime thanks to 13 trips to the charity stripe, where they made eight.
Whitworth began to make more shots in the third quarter, getting within six twice in the first two minutes. But Whitman also began to make shots more consistently and took a 46-34 lead on Elena McHargue's layup. The deficit went back to 13 points before Kimberly Dewey scored for the Bucs right before the third quarter buzzer to pull Whitworth within 50-39.
The Blues retook a 14-point lead (59-45) when McHargue hit a three-pointer with just under six minutes to play in the game. Whitworth's defense stiffened, forcing four straight stops, and the Pirates' used an 8-0 run to get within 59-53 on Olivia Mayer's basket with 2:58 to play. The Pirates had a chance to draw closer after a steal, but turned the ball back over to the Blues on the next possession. Whitworth got within 63-59 on a pair of Dewey free throws, but only 58 seconds remained. Whitman went 6-8 at the free throw line in the final minute to keep the Pirates at-bay.
Mayer led Whitworth with 17 points and six rebounds. McDeid added 13 points and Madison Hagen had 11. The Pirates finished the game 21-58 (36.8%) from the floor, 19-26 (73.1%) at the free throw line.
McCracken led Whitman with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Korin Baker had 11 and was the only other Blue in double figures. Whitman made 24-41 (47.1%) from the field, 17-29 (58.6%) from the free throw line.
Whitworth will host Willamette on Friday night at 6:00 pm in the Fieldhouse.
