SPOKANE, Wash. –Zalissa Sanfo racked up a 14-point, 12-rebound double-double while adding six blocks, and Whitworth beat Linfield for the fourth straight time 69-54 on Friday night in the Fieldhouse.
Whitworth (7-15, 4-9 NWC) was opportunistic all night, turning 17 offensive rebounds into 21 second chance points as they beat Linfield (11-11, 6-7 NWC) for the second time this season. Four Pirates scored in double figures. Ashlynn Neilsen scored a career-high 13 points (10 in the first half to lead Whitworth), Kimberly Dewey scored 13 and Mya Edwards added 10, and Sanfo recorded the seventh double-double of her freshman season.
The Pirates have swept the season series against the Wildcats each of the past two seasons and won seven of the last eight, but this loss put Linfield's conference tournament hopes in serious doubt. Gillyan Landis led the 'Cats with 14 points and Eve Burke added 13.
Whitworth outrebounded Linfield (43-38) and were plus-nine in turnover differential (17-8) as they emphatically ended a five-game skid.
Both teams shot 7-14 (2-4) in a high-flying opening quarter that featured six lead changes. The Pirates used a 7-0 run in that first quarter to pull ahead 14-10, and a pair of free throws from Dewey gave the Pirates the 20-17 lead at the end of one frame.
The Pirates broke open a double-digit lead with a trio of 3-pointers in the second. Cheyenne Rodgers drilled a pull up three in transition, and Neilsen converted a three-point play before burying a triple to give Whitworth a 29-19 lead.
Linfield trimmed the deficit to four holding Whitworth without a field goal for the next 5:21, but Fitzgerald broke the cold spell with another triple before Neilsen padded the lead with a layup in the final seconds of the half, and Whitworth led 37-28. Neilsen racked up a career-high 10 points in the first half alone to lead all scorers.
The Pirates shot 5-11 from three in the first half, and outrebounded Linfield 22-17 (8-4 in offensive rebounds) which led to 13 second chance points.
Whitworth cooled down in the second half shooting just 4-18 from the field (0-8 from deep) in the third quarter, but they made it work breaking even with the 'Cats in the period. In the fourth quarter, the Pirates traded punches brilliantly, never letting momentum swing too far.
With 7:20 left Amelia Solt buried a triple to bring Linfield to 53-47, and with 2:44 left Anna Dazey converted another three-point play to give the Wildcats a shot, but Whitworth closed the door.
Dewey, Fitzgerald, and Sanfo all hit key shots down the stretch to close the door on any chance of a Linfield rally, and Whitworth held on to snap their five-game losing streak.
Whitworth will play its final home game of the season on Saturday against George Fox.
