TACOMA, Wash. - Senior Claire Ely (Walnut Creek, Calif./Northgate) recorded for fifth-straight 20-point game as the 22nd-ranked Puget Sound Loggers pulled past the Whitworth Pirates, 66-57, in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game on Friday night at Memorial Fieldhouse in Tacoma, Wash.

The visiting Pirates came out shooting well as they held a six-point lead just over two minutes into the game.  The Loggers fought back, taking a one-point advantage on a three-pointer by Kelsey McKinnis (Ashland, Ore.) with 9:43 left in the first period but a 14-2 Whitworth run put the Bucs back up by eight points left in the period.  The Loggers finished the half of a 9-0 run of their own to take a 32-31 halftime lead.

In the second half, Ely and the Loggers took over, pushing the lead into double-digits with 11:40 left in the game but the pesky Pirates didn't give up, getting back withing two points with 6:52 left to play.  Ely put the Loggers on her shoulders the rest of the way, scoring nine of the Loggers final 11 points as Puget Sound collected the 66-57 victory.

Puget Sound was led by 27 points from Ely, who also added three assists to take over the third spot in the Loggers career assist rankings with 297.  McKinnis added 16 for the Loggers, making four of six from behind the arc.  Senior Natasha Ludwig (Hilo, Hawaii/Waiakea) brought down 11 rebounds in the win as the Loggers held a 42-38 advantage on the boards.

Whitworth was led by 19 points from Cassie Pilkinton.  The Pirates did a good job controlling the ball, committing just eight turnovers on the night, but Whitworth struggled from behind the arc, connecting on just six of 20 three-point attempts.

The Loggers will be back in action on Saturday evening when they play host to Whitman to wrap up a four-game homestand.  Tip with the Missionaries is set for 6:00 p.m. at Memorial Fieldhouse.