SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth University could not overcome a 28-point deficit in a 67-57 loss to visiting Pacific University in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game on Sunday afternoon.

The Pirates (5-7, 0-3) fell behind 43-20 at halftime against the Boxers (9-3, 3-0).  The game was a makeup from last Friday, which was postponed by impassable travel conditions.

Pacific jumped out to a 28-15 lead after one quarter.  The Boxers made 11 of 15 from the floor and 6 of 9 from three point range in the period.  Brilie Kovaloff scored ten points in the quarter to lead Pacific.  Whitworth got five points from Kimberly Dewey.

The Boxers continued to extend the lead in the second quarter as the Pirates struggled from the field.  Whitworth made only two of nine from the floor and went 0-3 from three-point range.  Cami Aguinaldo scored five of Pacific's 15 points. 

Sydney Gray opened the second half with a three-pointer and Rilee Price followed with a jumper, giving Pacific its largest lead of the game (48-20).  At that point Whitworth began to chip away, beginning with a 9-0 run that cut the margin to 48-29.  Dewey had a basket and a three-pointer in the spurt.  By the time Olivia Mayer hit a layup, the Pirates had cut the margin to 55-41 with 1:18 to go in the period.  Dawson Driggs finished the quarter with a free throw to pull the Bucs to within 55-42.

Whitworth was still within 13 when Kovaloff hit a three-pointer with just under six minutes to play to extend the margin back to 62-46.  Mayer trimmed the lead back to 62-50 with 3:40 to play and the Pirates had two chances to get the margin below ten on their next possession, but missed a pair of shots.  Whitworth also struggled at the free throw line in the fourth, making only 5 of 10.

Mayer led the Pirates with 19 points and eight rebounds.  Dewey scored 12 off the bench, while Madison Hagen scored 11.  Whitworth made 39.6% (21-53) from the floor and 33.3% (3-9) from beyond the arc.  The Bucs made only 57.1% (12-21) of their free throws. 

Kovaloff led Pacific with 19 points and Gray added 16 and nine rebounds.  Price finished with ten.  The Boxers cooled off in the second half and finished the game 41.5% (27-65) from the floor and 28.6% (10-35) from three-point range. 

Whitworth will return to action next Friday at home against nationally-ranked Puget Sound.