SPOKANE, Wash. - Puget Sound built a 20-point first half lead, then held on to defeat Whitworth University 64-54 in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game on Saturday night in the Whitworth Fieldhouse, keeping the visiting Loggers tied for first place in the NWC standings.

Orrell led all players with 15 points

UPS (19-4 overall, 12-2 NWC) made 54.5% (12-22) of its first half shots and held the Pirates (12-11, 7-7) to only 25.9% (7-27). After Alida Bower (Jr., F, Onalaska, Wash.) made a three-pointer to give Whitworth a 10-8 lead, the Loggers went on an 18-0 run to take a 26-10 advantage. Marissa Cain had six points and Claire Ely five in the run. UPS eventually led 36-16 before going to halftime with a 38-20 lead.

Chelsi Shaw's three-pointer with 16:54 to play gave the Loggers their largest lead of the second half (43-24). Over the next ten minutes Whitworth managed to cut the margin to 49-39 after a three-pointer by Natalie Orrell (So., F, Wenatchee, Wash.) with 6:39 to play. After Karen Chase answered for UPS with a second-chance lay up, the Pirates got as close as 51-44 after a free throw by Orrell with 4:16 to play. But Laura Hirsch answered with a three-pointer to extend the lead back to 54-44 and Whitworth would not get closer than eight points the rest of the way.

Orrell led all players with 15 points, while Bower finished with 10 points and five rebounds for the Pirates, who improved to 47% (15-32) shooting in the second half.

Morgan Harter led UPS with 12 points, a game-high nine rebounds and five assists, while Chase totaled 11 points and seven boards and Cain finished with 10 points. The Loggers outrebounded the Pirates 37-26.

With the season sweep of Whitworth, UPS remains tied with George Fox in the NWC standings. The Loggers return home to host Lewis & Clark and Willamette in the final weekend of the season.

Whitworth will wrap up its home schedule with a game against Whitman on Tuesday night. The Pirates will recognize Cassie Snyder (Sr., G, Spokane, Wash.) and Teresa Zeitler (Sr., G, Medical Lake, Wash.) prior to the contest.