Whitworth Places Five Starters in Double Figures, Defeats Bearcats, 73-67

By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director, (503) 370-6110

SPOKANE, WASH. -- All five starters for Whitworth University scored in double figures as the Pirates defeated Willamette University, 73-67, in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game on Friday, Feb. 11. Whitworth was led by Emily Guthrie, who scored 14 points and made 4 of 8 three-point shots.

Willamette placed three players in double figures. Alex Zennan (Sr., G, Sammamish, WA/Eastlake HS) provided the scoring lead for the Bearcats with a game-high 18 points. Zennan hit 4 of 8 three-pointers to match Guthrie from behind the arc.

Whitworth improved to 11-11 overall, including 7-6 in the NWC. Willamette moved to 3-17 on the season, 2-11 in the NWC.

Guthrie was followed on the Whitworth scoring chart by Jamie Lyons, who tallied 13 points. Taylor (LaMoreaux) Taylor and Emily Travis each chipped in 11 points for the Pirates, while Lauren Picha scored 10.

For Willamette, Zennan was joined in double digits by Kaileigh Westermann (Jr., F, Belfair, WA/South Kitsap HS) and Erin Barclay (Sr., G, Snohomish, WA/Bothell HS). Westermann provided 15 points and led the Bearcats with eight rebounds. Barclay tacked on 10 points to go with three steals.

The game featured 10 ties and 17 lead changes, including 12 lead changes in the second half. Willamette owned a 16-12 lead at the 11:44 mark of the first half. Jenna Cacchillo of Whitworth sank two free throws with 8:29 remaining in the half, as she achieved the game's first tie with her first attempt and gave the Pirates an 18-17 lead with the second shot.

Late in the half, Whitworth held a 31-28 margin following a layup by Lyons with 42 seconds on the clock. Willamette forced the fifth tie of the half, 31-31, when Zennan connected on a 3-pointer with two seconds left.

The lead went back-and-forth for the first seven minutes of the second half with three more ties and eight lead changes. Whitworth created the ninth lead change of the period on a 3-pointer by Lauren Picha with 12:42 on the clock, as the Pirates surged into a 48-46 lead.

Whitworth extended the margin to eight points, 58-50, when Guthrie nailed a 3-pointer at the 7:01 mark, but Willamette rallied quickly to tie the game. Barclay started the 8-0 run with a jump shot, and Shayna Glynn (Sr., F, Boise, ID/Capital HS/Walla Walla CC) added a free throw. Zennan tacked on a 3-pointer and Barclay completed the rally on a layup with 5:23 left.

The teams each added a layup before Glynn gave the Bearcats a 61-60 lead with 3:49 to go. Whitworth took the lead on a 3-pointer by Guthrie with 3:38 left to start a game-ending 13-6 run to secure the win.

Even so, Willamette trailed by just three points, 70-67, after MacKenzie Lamson (Fr., F, Portland, OR/Lincoln HS) made a jump shot with 1:02 remaining. Whitworth missed two shots and the Bearcats missed one before Travis sank 1 of 2 free throws to give the Pirates a 71-67 edge with 12 seconds left. Lyons added the final two points at the free throw line six seconds later.

Taylor of Whitworth topped all players with 12 boards, helping the Pirates earn a 48-37 rebounding edge. Whitworth connected on 10 of 26 three-pointers (38.5%), while the Bearcats sank 6 of 16 from 3-point range (37.5%).

The Bearcats converted 26 field goals, compared to 20 for Whitworth, but the Pirates gained a significant advantage in free throws made and attempted, hitting 23 of 30 charity shots (76.7%), with Willamette put in 9 of 16.

Willamette will take on Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash., on Saturday, Feb. 12. Tipoff for the NWC contest is scheduled for 6 p.m. (PST).