FOREST GROVE, Ore. – First place Pacific University forced a season-high 27 turnovers by visiting Whitworth University in a 74-40 Northwest Conference women's basketball victory on Friday night, sweeping the 2023-24 season series from the Pirates.

Whitworth fell to 6-12 overall and 3-6 in the NWC with a second straight loss.  The Boxers improved to 12-5, 8-1 to retain a share of the NWC lead with Willamette.

Unlike the first meeting between the two teams, the Pirates hung tough with the Boxers in the opening period.  Dawson Driggs hit a three-pointer to give Whitworth a 13-10 lead and another three by Kimberly Dewey made it 16-12 in favor of the Bucs.  Pacific went on to close the quarter on an 8-0 run, taking a 20-16 led on a layup by Brilie Kovaloff in the final minute.

The Boxers pulled away in the second quarter by outscoring the Bucs 23-9, taking a 43-25 lead into halftime.  Whitworth made only 2-10 from the field in the second and committed nine turnovers.  Meanwhile Pacific was 10-23 from the floor.

The Boxers continued to pull away in the third, putting the game out of reach by outscoring Whitworth 21-5.  The Pirates continued to struggle from the field, making only 1 of 14.  Both teams went to the bench for the fourth quarter, which started with a 64-30 lead for Pacific.

After making six baskets in the first quarter, the Bucs made only four baskets the rest of the way and finished the game 10-48 (21%) from the field.  Dewey was the only Pirate in double figures with 12 points.  Zalissa Sanfo had 11 rebounds, three assists and two blocks.

Whitworth's previous season-high for turnovers was 25 in the season opener against Sul Ross State, a game the Pirates won 70-57.

Kovaloff led Pacific with 16 points while Sydney Gray added 13.  Because they forced so many turnovers, the Boxers got off 25 more shots than the Bucs and finished 28-73 (38.4%). 

Whitworth will head to NWC co-leader Willamette for a game on Saturday night.