Kelsey Bumgarner, Whitworth Sports Information Intern

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SPOKANE, Wash. - Cassie Pilkinton and Natalie Orrell combined for 43 of Whitworth’s points in a 62-58 Northwest Conference win over visiting Linfield Saturday night.

Cassie Pilkinton

Natalie Orrell

Pilkinton (Jr., G, Chelan, Wash.) led all players with 23 points, shooting 3-6 (50%) from behind the three point line and scoring two free throws with eight seconds left to clinch the win. Orrell (Jr., F, Wenatchee, Wash.) had 20 points, and Liz Horiatis (Jr., C, Woodinville, Wash.) contributed a double-double for the Pirates, scoring 12 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, eight of them crucial defensive boards.

The Wildcats were led by Lindsey Gummersall and Sarah Amina with nine points each. Chrissy Baumgartner pulled down 14 rebounds for Linfield, and Stephanie Fennimore scored eight points. Linfield shot 41.7% (20-48) from the field for the night.

Whitworth went on an immediate 14-3 run to open the game, led by Horiatis’ six early points. Linfield then took a 12-1 run and tied the score 15-15 on a free throw by Whitney Honn. Horiatis scored two more free throws before Linfield outscored the Pirates in the next few minutes to gain a 24-19 lead with 4:43 left to go in the half. Pilkinton scored the only three of the first half for the Bucs to get within three and the teams went into the half with Linfield up 31-28.

Orrell opened the second half with a three-point play to tie the game 31-31. Pilkinton scored five more points before a 10-2 run led by Amina’s trey put Linfield back up 48-43 with 7:04 to play. Linfield still led 53-49, but three shots from behind the arc by Orrell, Pilkinton, and Leah Pomante (Jr., G, Colbert, Wash.) put Whitworth back up 58-55 with 1:39 left.

Orrell and Kelsey Forrest exchanged jumpers to make the score 60-58 with just 13 seconds left, and Pilkinton was fouled on the in-bounds play to go to the line in the bonus at the eight-second mark. Her two made free throws put the Pirates up four and secured the win 62-58.

Whitworth (12-9 overall, 6-6 NWC), who broke a three-game losing streak, will travel to Puget Sound next weekend to play at 6 pm. Linfield (3-18, 2-10) will head to Lewis & Clark.