WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Whitman pulled away in the second half for a 13-8 win over visiting Whitworth in a Northwest Conference women's lacrosse match on Wednesday evening.

The Pirates fell to 4-5 overall and 1-2 in the NWC while the Blues improved to 7-4, 2-1 after sweeping Whitworth by identical 13-8 scores this season.  The first meeting was a non-conference contest in Spokane on March 15.

The Pirates were playing catch up from the game's opening moments after Whitman scored the first two goals in the first minute of play.  Megan Whitman got the Pirates on the board just over five minutes into the first quarter from an assist by Campbell Vincent, but Whitworth trailed 3-1 after one period.

Sierra Witte scored the first goal of the second quarter 1:23 into the period and Vincent got her first of the match just under four minutes later to get the Bucs within 4-3.  The Blues scored two straight to double the lead before Vincent scored again with just over one minute left in the half to get Whitworth within 6-4 at halftime.

Two early goals in the third quarter finally brought the Pirates even at 6-6, one by Megan Whitman and another by Nikki Beers.  But then Whitworth's offense went cold and Whitman went on a 7-0 run over the next 21 minutes of the match, spanning the third and fourth quarters.  Lola McConaghy scored twice for the Blues during that stretch.

Sierra Witte broke the drought with her first goal, but only 5:15 remained in the match.  Vincent scored her final goal with 3:33 to play.

Whitman outshot Whitworth 36-18 and won 14 of 22 draw controls.  Whitworth committed 23 turnovers while giving up only ten.

Vincent led the Pirates with three goals and an assist, while Megan Whitman had to goals and one assist.  Amelie Deese led the defense with four caused turnovers and five ground balls.  Sage Fosnock made 11 saves in net.

Sarah Hawkins had three goals and two assists for Whitman, while McConaghy and Teagan Huff also scored three times each.  Huff also led the Blues with seven of their 14 draw controls.  Goalkeeper Renn Novak made five saves.

Whitworth will try to bounce back when the Pirates play at Linfield on Sunday afternoon.