SPOKANE, Wash. – Ranked second in the west region, the
17th-ranked Puget Sound Loggers got another important win on the
road, defeating the Whitworth Pirates, 81-74, in a Northwest
Conference women's basketball game on Friday evening at
Whitworth Fieldhouse in Spokane, Wash.
The Pirates came out with cannons a blazing, holding the lead
through most of the opening minutes but the Loggers took the lead
on a jumper by Jocelyn Riordan (Lake Forest Park, Wash./Shorecrest)
with 13:43. Puget Sound continued to build the lead, reaching
double-digits with 1:04 left to go in the first period as the
Loggers would take a 45-37 halftime lead.
In the second half, Puget Sound continued to hold off the
upset-minded Pirates, pushing the lead to 13 points with 8:10 left
to play. Whitworth continued to play the Loggers tight but the
Loggers improved to 19-3 overall and 11-2 in conference play with
the 81-74 victory.
The Loggers were led by 20 points from senior Claire Ely (Walnut
Creek, Calif./Northgate), who also added five assists and a pair of
steals. Riordan finished with 17 points while freshman
Lindsay Layland (Homer, Alaska) scored 15 points in the win.
Fellow freshman Kelsey McKinnis (Ashland, Ore.) added 11
points in the win.
Whitworth was led by 27 points from Cassie Pilkinton, who
finished the game 10 of 16 from the field. Liz Horiatis added
13 points in the losing effort.
Puget Sound will look for their 20th win of the season on Saturday
night when they travel to Walla Walla to take on Whitman. Tip with
the Missionaries is set for 8:00 p.m. at the Sherwood Center.
