CHICAGO - Whitworth University fell 74-58 in its women's basketball season opener to Baruch College (N.Y.) at the University of Chicago Midway Classic on Saturday afternoon.

Tiffany Corigliano

Tiffany Corigliano (Jr., F, Nine Mile Falls, Wash.) scored 17 points to lead the Pirates, who dropped a season opener for the first time since the 2002-03 season. Whitworth will play Concordia (Minn.) in tomorrow's consolation game at 9:00 a.m. (PST).

After falling behind early 14-4, the Pirates went on a 19-8 run to take a 23-22 lead on a three pointer by Corigliano. Two free throws by Keilah Fanene kept the Bucs within 32-30 before the Bearcats went on a 14-2 run that spanned the end of the first half and the beginning of the second period. Whitworth never got closer than 10 points the rest of the way as they were unable to overcome 33.8% shooting from the field. Baruch also outrebounded Whitworth 51-37.

Courtney Gaddis (Fr., F, Honolulu, Hawaii) came off of the bench to add 13 points for the Pirates and Fanene led the team with seven rebounds.

Whitworth is hoping to improve on last season's 14-11 final record. Baruch finished 21-7 last season and was regular season champion of the CUNYAC (13-0).