WHEATON, Ill. – Whitworth University held off North Park University 77-66 in the opening game of the Beth Baker Classic on Friday night, picking up a season-opening victory for the young women's basketball team.

The Vikings (0-3) cut the Pirates' 15-point third quarter lead to five points before Whitworth closed well to put the game away.  The Bucs will take on host Wheaton College on Saturday.

North Park led for much of the first quarter after jumping ahead 8-4 and 13-9.  Whitworth closed the period on a 9-2 run to take a 18-15 lead.  Addyson Gallatin came off the bench for six first quarter points, all on a pair of three-pointers.

The Pirates stretched their lead to 30-20 midway through the second quarter on a three-pointer by Julianna Jeross.  Bri Talley's basket late in the half extended the margin to 42-30 before NPU was fouled just before the buzzer and made one free throw.  Jeross had 12 points at the half, 10 coming in the second quarter.

After the Vikings got within 48-40 in the third, Whitworth scored seven straight points to open its largest lead at 55-40.  Jeross made another three and Gallatin scored inside to complete the run.

NPU chipped away throughout the fourth before getting within 64-59 on a basket by Teresa Morrissey with 3:33 to go.  The Pirates regrouped and outscored the Vikings 13-7 the rest of the way.  Tally's three-pointer was the first bucket after NPU had closed to within five and her basket with under two minutes to play extended the lead back to double digits (73-63).

Jeross and Gallatin had 15 apiece off the bench.  Ashlyn Peterson finished with 13 and Mya Bair scored 11, giving the Bucs four in double figures.  Ten players scored for Whitworth and the Pirates shot 44.6% (29-65) from the floor.  Whitworth also had a 42-35 edge in rebounds.  Peterson keyed the effort with a career-high eight assists and came away with five steals.  Alex Goetz led the Bucs with eight rebounds. 

Evelyn Abundes scored 16 and Caroline Long added 15 to lead North Park.