MCMINNVILLE, Ore. - (From Linfield SID Staff) Alida Bower scored 20 points, leading three players in double figures as visiting Whitworth held off a furious Linfield rally to collect a 75-70 Northwest Conference road victory Friday night at Ted Wilson Gym.

Bower led the Pirates with 20 points

Despite several worthy stabs by the Wildcats at a comeback (7-3, 0-1 NWC), the Pirates (6-4, 1-0 NWC) held the upper hand the entire game, leading from start to finish.

Bower shared top scoring honors with Linfield’s Courtney McFadden, who pumped in a career-high 20 points on 8 of 13 shooting. McFadden went 3 for 3 from behind the three-point arc, keeping the ‘Cats close in the waning moments.

Aiding Linfield’s cause were point guard Brihtani Lassister, who finished with 15 points, and guard/forward Marissa Lindquist, who totaled 11 points, seven rebounds and a game-high five assists.

With a dozen points from backup guard Leah Pomonte, the Pirates’ bench outscored the Wildcats reserves by a 32-10 count, including a 21-5 disparity in the first half. Natalie Orell equaled Lindquist’s game-high seven rebounds while adding 10 points and two steals for Whitworth. Liz Horiatis had a game high nine rebounds for the Bucs.

A quick start out of the gates put the visitors in command from the opening tip. The Pirates vaulted to a quick 11-1 lead during the game’s first three minutes and led the entire first half on their way to a 42-31 advantage at intermission. Alida Bower scored 11 points in the period.

Whitworth’s full-court press resulted in 17 first-half turnovers by Linfield, leading to 22 points. The Wildcats turned the ball over just three times in the second half.

Linfield cut the Whitworth lead to single digits to begin the second period, then narrowed the gap to 65-62 on a three-pointer with a little more than five minutes remaining.

A steal and layup by Lassister put Linfield within one at 67-66 but four Whitworth free throws, including two by Cassie Snyder, put the visitors in front 71-66.

Down by four with 28 seconds left, McFadden swished a three from the left side, bringing the Wildcats to within 71-70, but the Pirates put the game away at the free throw line, where Pomonte then Bower iced their charity tosses in the final 16 seconds.

AHEAD: The Pirates head to Salem, Oregon on Saturday to meet the Willamette Bearcats (2-8, 0-1) in Cone Fieldhouse.