SPOKANE, Wash. – Quincy McDeid made four free throws in the final 15 seconds of the game to secure Whitworth's 66-63 win over visiting Willamette on Friday night in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game.

The Pirates (8-11 overall, 3-7 NWC) evened the season series with the Bearcats (9-8, 4-4).

Olivia Mayer had three early baskets to help Whitworth jump out to a 10-2 lead three and a half minutes into the game.  Willamette got back within 17-14 on a jumper by Megan River before the Bucs took a 19-14 lead at the end of one period. 

Mayer converted a three-point play to give the Pirates a 26-15 lead three-minutes into the second, the Bucs' largest lead of the half.  The Bearcats rallied to within 26-25 with a 10-0 run capped by an Ashley Collins layin.  Willamette took a 29-28 lead into intermission thanks to a basket by River with under a minute to play.

Trailing 31-30 early in the third, Whitworth used an 8-0 run to take back the lead.  Mayer's jumper capped the run.  McDeid's three-pointer increased the Pirates' margin to 48-37 and the Bucs led 48-40 at the end of the third.

After Willamette got back within 51-48 early in the final quarter, Whitworth scored seven straight, including a three-pointer by Kimberly Dewey to retake a ten-point lead.  The Bearcats fought back to within 61-57 on a free throw from Carolyn Ho, and within 62-59 on Amanda Carpenter's layup.  But only 16 seconds remained in the game at that point and McDeid went 4-4 at the free throw line in those final ticks to secure the win.

Mayer finished with 16 points and six rebounds, while McDeid scored 15 and had three steals. Dewey scored ten for the Bucs, who shot 46.2% (24-52) from the field and 75% (15-20) from the free throw line.  Whitworth had a 32-27 edge in rebounds.

River led Willamette with ten points and was the only Bearcat in double figures.  The Bearcats made 47.2% (25-53) of their shots, and 66.7% (10-15) from the free throw line.

Whitworth will hit the road for games at Linfield and Pacific on Feb. 4-5.