Box Score PARKLAND, Wash. – Whitworth was unable to follow up its best offensive quarter of the season and fell 65-59 at Pacific Lutheran in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game on Friday night at Olson Auditorium.
The Pirates (5-19 overall, 4-11 NWC) scored a season-high 29 points in the first quarter, the most points they have scored in a single quarter all season. The Lutes (3-21, 2-13 NWC) tightened up their defense and allowed only 30 points from Whitworth the rest of the way.
Ashlyn Peterson hit back-to-back three-pointers to give Whitworth an early 10-4 lead. Ashlyn Neilsen added a pair of threes later in the opening period to extend the margin to 21-11. Ava Depew's trey gave the Pirates their largest lead of the game (27-15) with 1:22 to go in the first. The Lutes were able to cut the deficit to 29-20 by the end of the quarter. Whitworth made 11 of 20 from the field in the first, including 6 of 9 from three-point range.
The Bucs struggled offensively from there. They went 3 of 13 from the field in the second as the Lutes cut the deficit to two points twice, the final time on a basket by Kate Wooten with just over two minutes left. Addyson Gallatin answered with a trey for the Bucs and they led 37-32 at halftime.
Whitworth's offensive woes continued into the third quarter. The Bucs went 4 of 20 from the floor and turned the ball over eight times. That allowed PLU to outscore Whitworth 22-6 in the period. The Lutes used a 12-0 run to turn a 39-34 deficit into a 46-39 lead. After the Pirates got back within 46-43 on a pair of Neilsen free throws, PLU closed on an 8-0 run to lead 54-43 heading to the final period.
Whitworth as able to trim the margin back to 58-53 with 3:17 to play on a three-pointer by CC Size. Still trailing by only five with two minutes left, the Pirates had two chances to cut the deficit to a single possession, but a missed shot and then a turnover gave the ball back to PLU. The Lutes made 3 of 4 from the free throw line in the final minute to secure the win.
The 29 points in the first surpassed the 26 points the Pirates scored in the first quarter last Friday in a 76-58 win over Lewis & Clark as the highest scoring quarter of the season.
After making 11 of their first 20 shots, the Bucs finished the game 20 of 68 (29.4%) from the field, 10 of 23 from three-point range. They committed 22 turnovers.
Peterson led Whitworth with 17 points, adding eight rebounds and four assists. Gallatin posted her third straight double-double with 12 points and 11 boards, while Neilsen added 11 points.
Four players reached double figures for PLU with Sydney Reisner and Lilli Williams scored 15 each and G Ramadan adding a dozen points and 13 rebounds. The Lutes made 21 of 55 (38%) from the floor, 3 of 10 from beyond the arc.
Whitworth will finish off the 2025-26 season at Puget Sound on Saturday.
