TACOMA, Wash. - (From UPS Sports Information) The University of Puget Sound women's basketball team kept sole possession of first place Friday night at Memorial Fieldhouse with a win over the visiting Whitworth Pirates, 73-55. Puget Sound (18-4, 11-2 NWC) shot 50.0-percent for the game, and held Whitworth (13-9, 7-6) to just 25 second half points.

Bower had 12 points

Despite letting the Loggers score the game's first points, the Pirates quickly built a small lead to start the game, going up by three points at the 18:14 mark and again at the 17:01 mark. But that would be their biggest, and their last lead of the night, as the Loggers regained the lead at the 15:59 mark off a three-pointer from junior Laura Hirsh.

The Pirates continued to keep the game close, until the Loggers went on an 11-2 run, capped by five consecutive points from senior Jessica Roberts, to go up by 11 with 6:07 left in the first period. Just when it looked like the game was starting to get away from the Pirates they responded, ending the half with a 16-5 run to go into halftime down by two points, 32-30. Leah Pomante and Alida Bower each hit three pointers during the run.

The Pirates then opened the second half where they left off, tying the game just 20 seconds into the period off two free-throws from Susan McDaniel. Whitworth would push for one more tie in the half at the 18:02 mark, but eight points from Hirsh led a 10-2 Logger run as Puget Sound started to pull away, going up by eight with 16:36 left in the game.

A jumper from Pomante put Whitworth back within six with 13:08 to go but the Loggers then went on a 9-0 run to grab a 15 point lead with 9:27 left to play. With 4:33 left, Puget Sound again went on a 9-4 run and got their biggest lead of the night (22 points) with 1:20 to play.

The Loggers shot 50.0-percent from the field, and 40.0-percent from behind the three-point line. The Pirates shot 31.7-percent from the field, and 30.8-percent from behind the arc. The Loggers had 17 assists compared to seven from Whitworth and outboarded the Pirates 45-32.

Puget Sound was led by Hirsh, who finished with 22 points, six rebounds and three assists. Allison Craven added 11 points and five boards, and Brie Adderley rounded off double-digit scoring with 10 points and five rebounds.

Whitworth was led in scoring by Bower, who finished with 12 points. McDaniel finished with a double-double, chipping in 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, nine of which were offensive. Freshman Natalie Orrell finished with nine points for the Pirates.

Whitworth will attempt to keep alive its NWC playoff hopes on Saturday afternoon with a 4:00 pm game at Pacific Lutheran, which lost tonight at home to Whitman.