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Holly Ridings led the Pirates with 16 points

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Crystal Castle of Lewis & Clark College took two three pointers in the final six seconds with a chance to tie the game, but neither fell and Whitworth College held on to defeat the visiting Pioneers 63-60 in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game on Saturday night in the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

The Pirates (8-4, 2-2 NWC) won their fifth straight game behind 16 points by Holly Ridings and 13 points off of the bench from Chelsea Combs. Emily Hendrickson scored ten points. Amy Ridings led the Pirates with seven rebounds.

Lewis & Clark (6-6, 2-2) dropped its second straight game. Castle led all players with 17 points and seven rebounds, while Allison Farr chipped in with 14 points and seven boards. Sarah Moon finished with 15 points for L&C.

The first half featured six lead changes and seven ties before the teams went into the locker rooms tied 34-34. Ridings scored 14 of her points in the first half to keep the Pirates in the game. The Pioneers outshot Whitworth (50% to 41%) and had a 20-14 rebounding edge. But the Bucs were 9/10 from the free throw line to only 3/6 for L&C.

Whitworth scored the first two baskets of the second half and never trailed again. The Pirates opened up a 56-46 lead with 10 minutes left on a jumper by Combs that capped an 11-1 run. The final points of the game came with 3:14 left after a jumper by Farr rallied the Pioneers to within three points. Whitworth's Teresa Zeitler missed two free throws with 2:46 to go, but L&C could not take advantage. The Pioneers only had one shot from the field before Castle's final two three point attempts.

Lewis & Clark will try to regroup next Friday when the Pioneers host nationally-ranked George Fox University at 6:00 pm in Portland.

Whitworth extended its series winning streak against L&C to nine games. The Pirates will go west to take on University of Puget Sound and Pacific Lutheran University next Friday and Saturday. PLU is currently leading the NWC standings and UPS handed George Fox its only loss of the season.