Kelsey Bumgarner, Whitworth Sports Information Intern

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SPOKANE, Wash. - Cassie Pilkinton (Jr., G, Chelan, Wash.) scored her first points on a trey with 4:29 left in the game to spur on a late Whitworth comeback against the University of Puget Sound in a Northwest Conference women’s basketball matchup on Friday night. Pilkinton’s three pointer and succeeding jumper gave Whitworth the lead for first time of the night and UPS never regained momentum.

Cassie Pilkinton

UPS took control early when Claire Ely led a 7-0 Loggers’ run within the first four minutes of play. Missed shots by the Pirates soon saw the Bucs at a 12-2 deficit. Kim Bluff (Jr., G, Cusick, Wash.) made two jumpers to get Whitworth within six, but Ely continued to plague the Pirate defense and the Loggers eventually went up 20-9 with 5:23 left to play in the half. Alida Bower (Sr., F, Onalaska, Wash.) banked a three and scored a jumper to aid the Pirates in pulling closer and end the half down just 23-18.

Natalie Orrell (Jr., G, Wenatchee, Wash.) began the second half with a jumper but Karen Chase scored a couple layups to keep UPS ahead. Liz Horiatis (Jr., P, Woodinville, Wash.) added two layups to help Whitworth stay close to the Loggers, and Bluff added one more layup to bring the Pirates within 29-28 with 13:32 left in the game. Ely scored two jumpers and Chase contributed a couple free throws as the Loggers regained a seven-point lead.

Bluff’s layups within 15 seconds of each other gave the Pirates some momentum to set up Pilkinton’s three pointer that tied the game 37-37 with 4:29 left to play. Pilkinton’s next three gave the Bucs their first lead and four key free throws by Pomante in the final 30 seconds fought off last-minute attempts by Puget Sound to regain the lead, clinching the victory for Whitworth 47-43.

Leading the Pirates in scoring was Bluff and Horiatis with 10 points each. Horiatis also had four rebounds. Pilkinton and Pomante both had seven points, and Bower contributed five rebounds. Whitworth shot 35.4% from the field, 32% in the second half, but made only two shots from beyond the arc for the night.

Ely led Puget Sound with 17 points and 4 rebounds. Chase contributed 10 points and eight rebounds, and Andrea Edwards led both teams with 10 rebounds. The Loggers shot 30% from the field and 50% (11-22) from the free throw line.

Whitworth’s win ended a six game losing streak to Puget Sound.

Whitworth will stay at home to face Pacific Lutheran Saturday at 4:00 p.m. Puget Sound will continue on to play Whitman at 6:00 p.m.