SPOKANE, Wash. – The Whitworth Pirates comeback could not hold on in a 64-49 loss to Mary Hardin-Baylor in a non-conference women's basketball matchup on Friday night at Whitworth fieldhouse.

The Pirates (3-3) came back to take a one-point third quarter lead before the Crusaders (7-2) regrouped and took the win.

Mary Hardin-Baylor started the game hot and made six of their first ten shots. Ashlyn Peterson knocked down a three-pointer at the 7:16 mark before the Crusaders went on a 13-6 run. Two free throws from Rachel Okoye gave the Crusaders a twelve-point lead with just over two minutes to go in the quarter. Peterson made a layup to close the quarter and cut the lead to 23-13.

The second quarter began in a stalemate with only two Crusader field goals scored in the first four minutes. Julianna Jeross hit a three-pointer to spark the Pirates offense with 4:49 left in the quarter, but Mary Hardin-Baylor followed with an 8-2 run. An Adyson James layup gave the Crusaders their largest lead of the half at 36-18. Whitworth trailed 40-23 at halftime.

The Pirates turned their shooting woes around and went on a 12-1 run to start the third quarter. Keely Maves made a jumper and Jeross hit her second three pointer to shrink the lead to three with 4:42 left. A minute later, Mya Bair hit a shot from beyond the arc to tie the game at 43. Bri Talley made a free throw to give Whitworth its first lead of the game 44-43. Mary Hardin-Baylor went on a 6-0 run and regained a 49-44 lead to close the quarter. The Pirates shot 50% (7-14 FG) from the field and outscored the Crusaders 21-9 in the third period.

The lead would not be recaptured as Mary Hardin-Baylor scored 12 unanswered points to start the final quarter. The Pirates' only two baskets of the quarter came in the final two minutes in the form of an Ashlyn Nielson driving layup and Jeross three-pointer. The Crusaders outscored the Pirates 15-5 in the fourth.

Whitworth shot 29.7% from the field and 29.4% from three-point range. Mary Hardin-Baylor showed their physicality on the glass and outrebounded the Pirates 54-39, with 22 on the offensive end. The Crusaders shot 37.1% from the field and 26.7% from beyond the arc.  

Peterson led the Pirates in scoring with 14 points and added five assists. Jeross made her first start of the season and put up nine points on three three-point baskets. Alex Goetz grabbed seven rebounds and was the only other Pirate in double figures with 10 points.

Karlee Cronk scored a game-high 16 points for Mary Hardin-Baylor while adding four steals. James finished with 11 points and 14 rebounds.

The Whitworth women head to California to visit La Verne on Monday in the first of a three-game road trip.