WHITTIER, Calif.— Kimberly Dewey scored a career-high 19 points but Whittier rallied in the second half to beat Whitworth 61-53 in a non-conference women's basketball game on Wednesday afternoon at Graham Athletic Center. 

Whitworth falls to 4-6 overall on the season as Whittier snapped a five game losing skid, improving to 3-7.  

Whitworth started off strong in the opening frame, shooting 50.0% (7-14) from the floor and limiting Whittier to just 29.4% (5-17). Quincy McDeid's jumper gave the Pirates a 13-4 lead with 4:51 remaining. Shots began to fall for the Poets as Lainie James knocked down a trey with 44 seconds remaining to end the period down 18-13. 

Whittier started the second quarter on a 9-0 run capped by Rhe Nae Leach's jumper. Dewey's three-pointer with 5:26 remaining ended the run and brought the Pirates within one. The Poets outscored Whitworth 16-9 in the period and took a 29-27 lead at the half. 

The Bucs kept things close with the Poets the majority of the third quarter, but Whitter ended the period on an 8-0 run to take a 46-35 lead heading into the final frame. The Poets held the Pirates to just eight points in the period.

Whittier controlled the majority of the fourth quarter, and a layup by Leach with 6:34 remaining gave the Poets their largest lead at 16. Whitworth battled in the final minutes, trimming the margin to six with 1:34 remaining after Dewey knocked down a trey. Whitter made their free throws on the other end to keep the Pirates at a distance and win 61-53.

Dewey added nine rebounds to her career-high in points. She surpassed her previous career high of 17. Olivia Mayer posted her eighth double-double of the season, with 16 points and 12 rebounds. McDeid added 12 points. 

Whitworth was 18 of 60 (30.0%) from the floor, 6 of 28 (21.4%) from three-point range and 11 of 15 (73.3%) from the charity stripe. The Pirates outrebounded the Poets 43-36.

Leach had her own double-double performance for Whittier with 29 points and 15 rebounds. James added 16 points and 4 rebounds. Lizzie Scriven had 10 points. The Poets made 24 of 58 (41.4%) from the floor, 7 of 21 (33.3%) from behind the arc, and were 6 of 12 (50.0%) from the free throw line. 

The Pirates will break for Christmas and return to play at home against California Lutheran on December 29th at 12:00 pm.