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McMINNVILLE, Ore. - Whitworth forced 30 turnovers to overcome a slow start and pick up a 61-50 Northwest Conference women’s basketball win on Saturday evening at Linfield.

Liz Horiatis

The Pirates (8-5 overall, 2-2 NWC) trailed 17-4 five minutes into the game. Leah Pomante (Jr., G, Colbert, Wash.) drained a three-pointer on Whitworth’s first possession, but the Wildcats went on a 17-1 run, including seven points by Kelsey Forrest, to grab the 13-point lead. After Pirate head coach Helen Higgs called a time out, Whitworth responded with an 11-0 run to get within 17-15. Alida Bower (Sr., F, Onalaska, Wash.) had seven of those points.

But Linfield did not give up the lead and jumped back in front 23-15 on a three-pointer by Amanda Juarez. Trailing 31-26, Whitworth got within three at halftime on a jumper by Kim Bluff (Jr., G, Cusick, Wash.).

Whitworth then opened the second half on a 13-0 run to take a 41-31 lead and controlled the rest of the game. The Pirates forced three Linfield turnovers during the spurt and Cassie Pilkinton (Jr., F, Chelan, Wash.) scored seven of the points. Whitworth took its largest lead of the game at 61-45 on Tiffany Corigliano’s (Sr., P, Nine Mile Falls, Wash.) free throw with 3:00 left to play.

Liz Horiatis (So., P, Woodinville, Wash.) led the Pirates with 12 points, while Natalie Orrell (Jr., G, Wenatchee, Wash.) and Bower each scored 11 apiece. Corigliano led Whitworth with eight rebounds.

Nadra Evans led Linfield with 11 points and Forrest finished with 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds. Whitworth held the Wildcats on only 19% shooting from the floor (4-21) in the second half.

The Pirates will return home to host Puget Sound on Friday night at 6:00 p.m.