MCMINNVILLE, Ore.—Rowan Cusack hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to complete a second-half comeback and lift Linfield over visiting Whitworth 62-59 in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game on Friday night.

The Wildcats (1-17, 1-9 NWC) picked up their first win of the season and the Pirates (8-12, 3-8) saw their conference tournament hopes take a significant hit.

The teams played a seesaw first quarter with three tie scores until a five-point run and three free throws, one from Olivia Mayer and two from Devyn Cope, ended the quarter with a 15-10 Whitworth lead.

The teams played a foul heavy second quarter, with ten of the quarter's total points coming from free throws. Madison Hagen opened the quarter with a three-pointer, and Maggie Smith answered with one of her own for the Wildcats. A four-point Linfield run closed the gap to 28-24, but six points in the last four minutes compared to the Wildcats' three gave the Pirates a 36-29 lead at the break.

Linfield charged out of the half with a seven-point run to tie the game at 36. Five of those points belonged to Elyse Waldal. The Pirates scored two layups to go ahead 40-39, but the Wildcats answered with an eight-point run to lead 47-40. Gillyan Landis and Rowan Cusack led the run. A Madison Hagen three ended the quarter 49-45. Linfield shot a game best 69.2% from the field and made both attempts from three.

Quincy McDeid opened the final quarter for the Pirates with back-to-back shots to tie the game up at 49. Landis responded with a layup and three-pointer of her own to regain the lead. Whitworth went on a seven-point-run with three minutes remaining to tie the game at 57. Linfield buried two free throws to regain the lead, but McDeid made two of her own free throws with 22 seconds left to re-tie the game at 59. The Pirates inbounded the ball and passed it around but turned it over with eight seconds remaining in the game. The Wildcats regained possession and Cusack sealed the game with a three as time expired.

McDeid had 21 points and seven rebounds for Whitworth, while Tara Kaneshiro had 10 points and five steals. The Pirates finished the game shooting 37.5% (18-48) from the field, 73.9% (17-23) from the free throw line. 

Landis had 15 points and 9 rebounds, and Cusack tallied 13 points in the victory for the Wildcats.  The Wildcats made 46.9% (23-49) from the floor, including 8-16 from three-point range.

The Pirates travel to Forest Grove, Oregon to take on Pacific on Saturday at 4pm.