Chris Johnson, Whitworth SID Intern

SPOKANE, Wash. - The Whitworth women’s basketball team remained undefeated in 2006-07, beating visiting Lewis & Clark 68-59 Saturday night in the Whitworth Fieldhouse. The win pushes the Pirates’ record to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in the NWC.

Susan McDaniel has two double-doubles in 06-07

It was a team effort for the Pirates, who had five players score in double figures. Susan McDaniel collected her second double-double of the season with 15 points and 14 rebounds, eight of which came on the offensive end. Natalie Orrell and Tiffany Corigliano each scored 11 points, while Alida Bower chipped in 10. Freshman Leah Pomante provided the spark off the bench with career highs of 12 points and 6 rebounds. Junior PG Cassie Snyder was the one getting everyone involved, totaling 11 assists, with only 2 turnovers.

Lewis & Clark (2-3, 0-2) got 17 points and five assists from Sarah Moon and 16 points and 9 rebounds from Crystal Castle. Allison Farr scored eight of her 11 points in the first half to help the Pioneers take an early lead.

Lewis & Clark had control of the game midway through the first half after a 16-5 run pushed their lead to 20-9. The Pioneers took a 32-28 lead into the locker room behind a stingy defense that forced the Pirates into 11 first half turnovers.

The two teams traded baskets early in the second half. A three-pointer by Moon gave the Pioneers a 46-42 lead with 9:38 to play. But Pomante scored the next 8 points for the Pirates, including back to back three-pointers, swinging the game back in Whitworth’s favor at 50-48. The Pioneers took their last lead of the game the next time down the court when Castle drove to the hoop and was fouled, converting the three-point play for a 51-50 lead.

Whitworth pulled away over the final 7 minutes with clutch shooting from the free throw line. The Pirates scored 18 of their final 20 points from the charity stripe and finished 21-24 (87%) for the game. Whitworth totaled 13 steals for the game, 9 of which came in the second half.

Whitworth is back in action on December 8th when they travel to Oregon to play Albertson College in the Eastern Oregon University Holiday Classic. Lewis & Clark return home to play Concordia on Tuesday.