WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whitworth Pirates could not overcome cold shooting in a 67-57 loss to Whittier in a non-conference women's basketball matchup on Sunday afternoon.
The Pirates (3-2) shot 28.8% from the field while the Poets (4-1) converted 19 of 26 free throws to secure the win.
The Pirates struggled to find the bottom of the net in the first quarter, making just two field goals in the first seven minutes of action. Julianna Jeross and Mya Bair each hit a three-pointer to give the Pirates some momentum, but the Bucs trailed 19-12 at the end of the quarter.
Whitworth adjusted and started the second quarter on a 10-2 run. Bri Talley dished the ball to Skylar Tuckwood for a layup that put the Pirates up 22-21 with 8:26 left in the quarter. The lead would not last long as the Poets went on a 9-0 run of their own to regain a 30-22 lead at the 4:57 mark. Whitworth shot 25% from the field (10-45 FG) and trailed 36-28 at halftime.
Alex Goetz nailed a three-pointer midway through the third to shrink the Poet lead to 43-36. Whittier kept their foot on the gas and used 53.3% shooting to outscore the Pirates 18-12 in the third quarter. Lorita Solloom's jumper gave the Poets their largest lead of the game at 54-40 heading into the final ten minutes.
The Pirates chipped away and put the Poets on their heels early in the fourth quarter. Addyson Gallatin hit a three-pointer and Jeross followed with two more buckets from distance to cut the Whittier lead to 56-52 with 6:15 to go. That would be as close as the Pirates got as Rhe Nea Leach converted a three-point play to give Whittier a seven-point lead with 3:27 to go. The Poets made four more free throws down the stretch to put the game out of reach.
Whitworth made 21of 74 (28.8%) field goals and 10 of their 43 (23.3%) three-pointers. Jeross put up a season-high 15 points to lead the Pirates and Gallatin added 10 points and three rebounds. Goetz and Bair each had eight points and three assists.
Leach scored a game-high 23 points and ten rebounds to lead the Poets. Salloom added 17 points and 15 rebounds.
The Whitworth women are back in Spokane to host Mary Hardin-Baylor on December 13th.
