Chris Johnson, Whitworth SID Intern

SPOKANE, Wash. - The Whitworth women’s basketball team opened up Northwest Conference play with a 64-52 win over Pacific University Friday night in Whitworth Fieldhouse.

Orrell had 16 points and seven rebounds

Alida Bower and Natalie Orrell scored 16 points each to lead the Pirates. Susan McDaniel added 13 points and 7 rebounds. Amy Pedersen had a game high 26 points and 8 rebounds to lead the Boxers.

Whitworth (4-0 overall, 1-0 NWC) struggled early as McDaniel was forced to sit for most of the first half with three fouls. Pedersen scored six points during an 11-0 run that pushed the Boxer lead to 13-6. But it was the Pirates who took a lead of 31-29 into the locker room after making 6 of 10 from three-point land.

McDaniel scored 11 of her 13 points in the second half as Whitworth pulled away. The Pirates went on a 9-0 run, which included three-pointers by both Bower and Orrell, to open up a 60-45 lead with 3:56 to play. The Pirates finished the game shooting 45% from beyond the arc with Bower and Orrell each making 4 of 6.

Whitworth continues conference play tomorrow at home against Lewis and Clark. Pacific (3-3 overall, 0-1 NWC) travels to Walla Walla to take on Whitman. Both games have a 4:00 tip-off.