Kelsey Bumgarner, Whitworth Sports Information Intern

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SPOKANE, Wash. - The Whitworth women’s basketball playoff hopes took a hit Friday night in Northwest Conference play with a 73-64 loss to the visiting Bearcats of Willamette.

The Bearcats (4-13 overall, 3-8 NWC) shot 45% (9-20) from behind the three-point line and 42.1% (24-57) from the field against the Pirates. Alex Zennan headed up the Bearcat attack with six threes and 24 points, while Molly Fillion added a double-double, scoring 20 points and grabbing 16 rebounds. Jenny Fillion also contributed eight points.

Liz Horiatis

Whitworth (11-9, 5-6) had another low shooting percentage night, making just 33.8% (23-68) from the field and 22.2% (4-18) behind the arc. Liz Horiatis (Jr., C, Woodinville, Wash.) led the Pirates with 18 points and seven rebounds, followed by Natalie Orrell’s (Jr., F, Wenatchee, Wash.) 13 points, Cassie Pilkinton’s (Jr., G, Chelan, Wash.) 11 points, and Tiffany Corigliano’s (Sr., F, Nine Mile Falls, Wash.) ten points and 15 rebounds, ten of them offensive.

Molly Fillion scored a three seven seconds into the game to give the Bearcats the instant lead, and two more threes by Zennan and Tiana Abbley soon saw Willamette up 20-8. However, the Bucs went on a 16-2 run, prompted by two threes from Kim Bluff (Jr., G, Cusick, Wash.) to take the lead for the only time of the night 24-22. Willamette followed that run with one of their own and Zennan scored two more threes as the Bearcats outscored Whitworth 14-2 in the last eight minutes of the half to go up 36-26 going into halftime.

Orrell opened the second half with a trey and the Bucs came back within 43-41 on a three-point play by Corigliano, but Willamette regained their composure and once again extended the lead. Molly Fillion scored a couple free throws and Zennan put up three more treys within three minutes of each other to help the Bearcats gain a 61-42 advantage with 7:32 left to play. From there on out, despite a short Whitworth run led by Orrell and Horiatis, Willamette maintained control of the game and it ended 73-64.

Whitworth went into the night tied for fourth place in the NWC standings with Whitman, but the Pirates are now a game out of th final playoff spot and tied for fifth with Pacific Lutheran.

Whitworth will take on Linfield at home Saturday at 4 pm and Willamette travels to play Whitman.