TACOMA, Wash. – The Puget Sound women's basketball team suffered it first conference setback of the season in a 76-68 loss to Whitman on Friday. Four Loggers finished in double digits but dropped their fourth straight game.

The Loggers (6-6, 2-1 NWC) and Missionaries (4-7, 1-2 NWC) went back and forth  over ten minutes before Whitman started to pull away. Mary Madden gave the Missionaries a one-point lead as part of a 7-0 run that saw them build a five-point lead.

The Missionaries lead reached eight points before the Loggers finished the first half on an 8-2 run. Amanda Forshay's final jumper of the half dropped in with 34 seconds left to close the gap to a 35-33 halftime score.

Forshay finished with 16 points as did junior guard Kelsey McKinnis. Jocelyn Riordan scored 12 points while Lindsay Layland added 10 points and six rebounds.

The Missionaries took the battle on the boards with a 42-29 advantage in rebounds.

The Loggers looked to take early control in the second half as they took a quick lead. McKinnis drove into the lane and dropped in a layup while she was fouled. She hit the ensuing free throw to give the Loggers a 36-35 lead.

However, the Missionaries responded with a 16-2 run, capped by a layup from Jenele Peterson that gave the visitors a 51-38 lead. Peterson finished with 12 points while Madden ended with a team-high 16 points.

The Loggers established a run of their own and cut the lead to 59-58 on a free throw from Layland. A three-pointer one minute later from Taylor Jones cut the lead back to one but Whitman pulled away over the final three minutes to take the victory.

The Loggers remain home to host Whitworth tomorrow at 4 p.m.