SPOKANE, Wash. - Bouncing back from its worst shooting performance of the season, the Whitworth University women's basketball team used a strong second half to defeat visiting Pacific University 66-53 in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game on Saturday afternoon at the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

PG Snyder helped limit second half turnovers and had 12 points

The Pirates (8-5 overall, 3-1 NWC), who shot 43% from the free throw line and 12% from three point range in Friday night's loss to Lewis & Clark, looked to be suffering from a similar malady in the first half against the Boxers. Pacific (2-10, 1-3) held Whitworth to 24% shooting (8-33) in the first half, while shooting 41% (11-27) on the way to a 30-23 halftime lead. Pacific also forced nine Whitworth turnovers in the first period.

Kalei Frank's basket with 17:44 to play gave Pacific its largest lead of the game at 36-25. But Whitworth went on a 14-2 run over the next four minutes, taking a 39-38 lead on a pair of free throws by Natalie Orrell (So., F, Wenatchee, Wash.), who had six points in the spurt.

The teams traded leads over the next few possessions, but when a Courtney Gaddis (Fr., F, Honolulu, Hawaii) lay up was followed by Molly Schlander's (Jr., G, Scottsdale, Ariz.) three pointer, Whitworth had a 45-41 lead with 10 minutes left and the Pirates would never trail again. Whitworth steadily extended its lead to as many as 15 points (66-51) late in the game.

It was a tale of two halves. In the second half Whitworth shot 41% (14-34), while holding Pacific to 23.5% (8-34). The Boxers, who rely on the three-point shot for much of their offense, were 0-12 from beyond the arc in the second half. Perhaps just as important, Whitworth only committed one turnover after halftime when they outscored Pacific 43-23.

Orrell finished with 13 points to lead the Pirates, while Cassie Snyder (Sr., G, Spokane, Wash.) added 12 points. Tiffany Corigliano (Jr., P, Nine Mile Falls, Wash.) and Alida Bower (Jr., F, Onalaska, Wash.) each had 10 rebounds for the Bucs.

Amy Pedersen led Pacific with a game-high 15 points, while Christine Kim and Ashley Bellamy each had nine points. Kristina Stevens had 10 rebounds for the Boxers.

Whitworth will return to the road next weekend, traveling to Tacoma for games at Pacific Lutheran (Friday) and Puget Sound (Saturday). Pacific returns home to host Linfield (Friday) and George Fox (Saturday).