PORTLAND, Ore. - (From L&C Sports Information Office) Lewis & Clark College pulled away from a halftime tie to defeat visiting Whitworth University 69-57 in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game on Friday night at the Pamplin Sports Center.

Orrell led the Pirates with 15 points

The Pirates (11-9 overall, 6-5 NWC) broke a 7-7 tie with a three-pointer by Alida Bower followed by a three by Cassie Snider to take an early 13-7 lead. The Pirates extended their lead to eight, 17-9, on a pair of Bower free throws with 11 minutes left in the first half. The Pioneers Crystal Castle went on a 6-0 run of her own, getting fouled on a made layup and hitting a free throw followed by a three pointer, to get the Pioneers right back into the game. Lewis & Clark tied up the game at the eight minute mark, 21-21, on a layup by Kelly Vega. The two teams traded leads, tying up the game six more times before going into the locker rooms at the half with a score of 34-34.

The second half began in much the same manner, with the two teams tied 39-39 with just over 15 minutes left in the game, before the Pioneers went on a 7-0 run to push out to a 46-39 lead. Whitworth answered, pulling within two, 46-44, on a three-pointer by Alida Bower with 10:30 remaining. The Pioneers answered with a pair of threes, one by Laura Snider and one by Shawna Castle to build the lead back up to eight, 52-44, with 9:23 remaining. A jumper by Shawna Castle with 7:39 remaining gave the Pioneers their first double-digit lead, 55-45. The Pioneers kept the lead close to ten points for the rest of the game, with the Pirates managing to pull within seven, 64-57, on a three-pointer by Alida Bower with 1:28 remaining, but they would get no closer as the Pioneers held on for the 69-57 victory.

The Pioneers shot 61.9% in the second half while the Pioneer defense held the Pirates to just a 26.9% efficiency in that same time frame. The Pioneers finished the game shooting 57.1% to the Pirates 36.7%.

Crystal Castle scored a game-high 17 points, also pulling in a game-high eight rebounds. Kim Kittell scored 14 points, going 5-7 from the floor. She had five assists, four rebounds and a steal. Christina Herring played a strong defensive game, with six rebounds.

For the Pirates, Natalie Orrell scored 15 points with five rebounds, three assists, and three blocks. Alida Bower scored fourteen points, hitting four three-pointers. She also had four rebounds and a pair of steals. Cassie Snyder finished with 12 points and seven assists.

With the victory, the Pioneers remain in a tie for third place with a 7-4 Conference mark. They improve to 11-9 overall. The Pirates fall out of third place with the loss.

The Pioneers will host Whitman Saturday afternoon at 4pm. Whiworth heads out to Forest Grove to take on Pacific tomorrow.