Kelsey Bumgarner, Whitworth Sports Information Intern

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SPOKANE, Wash. - Natalie Orrell's free throws with 21 seconds to play helped Whitworth edge out Pacific Lutheran 59-57 in a tight Northwest Conference women’s basketball matchup Saturday night.

Tiffany Corigliano

Tiffany Corigliano (Sr., F, Nine Mile Falls, Wash.) led the Pirates (10-5 overall, 4-2 NWC) with 13 points, eight rebounds, and two blocks, shooting 3-4 (75%) from behind the arc in the second half. Liz Horiatis (Jr., P, Woddinville, Wash.) contributed 12 points and five rebounds, and Alida Bower (Sr., F, Onalaska, Wash.) had 11 points.

Trinity Gibbons had 15 points for the Lutes (9-5, 3-2), aided by Amy Spieker’s 14 points and Nikki Scott’s 12 points. Emily Voorhies grabbed 11 rebounds.

After a couple of made shots by Scott and Voorhies early in the game, Whitworth went on a 6-0 run to lead 6-4 five minutes in. The Pirates continued to hold the lead throughout the half, aided by six subsequent points by Bower. Whitworth extended the lead to 29-17 with 6:04 left in the half with shots by Cassie Pilkinton (Jr., C, Chelan, Wash.) leading the way. However, a 13-0 PLU run, including eight straight points by Gibbons, put the Lutes ahead 30-29 going into the second half.

After Gibbons extended the lead to 32-29 in the second half, Corigliano tied the score with her first of three treys. After a few exchanges of the lead, Whitworth’s turn for a 13-0 run came along, spurred by two more threes and a jumper by Corigliano to put the Bucs up 49-39 with 8:57 left in the game. Pacific came back again and continued to chip away at Whitworth’s lead, eventually pulling even 57-57 after Spieker made two threes in a row with 1:05 to play.

The teams exchanged possessions one more time until Orrell (Jr., F, Wenatchee, Wash.) pulled down a rebound and drew a foul, putting her at the free throw line. After Orrell’s two made free throws, the Lutes had a couple more chances to pull even, but Corigliano and Pilkinton both snatched key rebounds to keep possession for Whitworth and end the game at 59-57.

Whitworth plays at home again on Tuesday night against Whitman at 6:00 pm. Pacific Lutheran travels back home to face Linfield at 6:00 p.m. on Friday.