By Robert McKinney, Athletics Communications Director

SPOKANE, Wash. -- Whitworth University rallied from a 29-27 halftime deficit and then held off Willamette University for a 67-61 Northwest Conference women's basketball victory on Saturday, Feb. 13 at the Whitworth Fiedhouse. The Pirates upped their record to 14-9 overall, 9-5 in the NWC. Willamette fell to 12-11 overall, 4-10 in the NWC.

Kylie Towry (Jr./So., G, Medford, OR/South Medford HS) of Willamette topped all players with 24 points. She connected on 8 of 13 field goals, including 3 of 7 three-point shots. She also went 5 for 5 at the free throw line. Towry now holds fifth place all-time at Willamette with 147 career 3-point baskets.

Marisa Hamilton (Jr./So., F, Beaverton, OR/Southridge HS) added 14 points and hit 7 of 12 field goals for the Bearcats. Alex Wert (Jr., F, Spokane, WA/St. George's HS) grabbed a game-high nine rebounds.

Whitworth received 17 points form K.C. McConnell, who made two 3-pointers and sank 7 of 10 free throws. She also led the Pirates with seven rebounds. Taylor Flemming tacked on 15 points, while hitting 4 of 5 field goals, including 3 of 4 shots from 3-point range. Faith Emerson scored 13 points to go along with six boards for the Pirates.

The Pirates led by just three points 55-52, after Towry sank a pair of free throws with 4:08 remaining in the game. Whitworth registered the next five points on 5 of 6 free throws to claim a 60-52 advantage with 1:58 on the clock.

Willamette moved as close as 63-59 with 34 seconds left on a layup by Hamilton and 65-61 at the 17-second mark when Hamilton scored on another layup.

Jessica Thoens sank two free throws with 12 seconds to go to clinch the win for Whitworth. The Pirates went 7 of 8 at the free throw line in the final minute to finish the game 21 of 26 (80.8%) at the charity stripe. Willamette sank 10 of 13 free throws (76.9%) during the game.

Willamette outscored the Pirates 51-46 from the field. The Bearcats connected on 23 of 47 shots (48.9%) and put through 5 of 12 attempts from behind the 3-point line. Whitworth was 20 of 47 on field goals (42.6%), including 6 of 13 (46.2% on 3-pointers.

The Bearcats took a 4-0 lead on layups by Towry and Madi Andresen (So., C, Forest Grove, OR/Forest Grove HS/Clackamas CC) to start the game. Whitworth scored the next seven points to move into a 7-4 lead with 4:32 on the clock. Towry tied the score with her first 3-pointer of the night.

After another tie at 9-9, the Bearcats ended the quarter with a jumper by Wert and a 3-pointer by Mary Eckenrode (So., PG, Higley, AZ/Highland HS). Willamette led 14-9 after 10 minutes.

Whitworth cut the lead to 14-12 before the Bearcats exploded for a 13-1 run. The run, which included five points from Racyne Parker (Jr./So., G, Klamath Falls, OR/Henley HS) and four from Hamilton, left Willamette with a 27-13 advantage at the 2:54 mark of the second quarter.

The Pirates surged back with a 14-2 run that reduced Willamette's lead to 29-27 at halftime. The run included a 3-pointer by McConnell and ended with a 3-pointer by Flemming as time expired.

A jumper by McConnell and a 3-pointer from Callie Harwood in the first 1:23 of the second half allowed Whitworth to take a 32-29 lead. Willametted added four consecutive points, ending with a 3-point basket by Whitney Anderson (So., G, Willamina, OR/Willamina HS), to move back in front, 33-32, as the clock reached 6:45.

Thoens hit a jumper for the Pirates on their next possession, as the lead changed again. Whitworth also led by a single point, 36-35, after Hamilton put in a layup for the Bearcats with 5:12 on to go.

The Pirates tallied the next eight points , including six by Emerson, for a 44-35 lead, and held a 46-39 margin entering the fourth quarter. Willamette trailed by single digits throughout the final period, but was unable to get closer than three points.

In addition to strong shooting, the Bearcats earned a 28-27 rebounding lead and outscored Whitworth 24-20 in the paint. Whitworth gained a 23-6 advantage in points off turnovers, after forcing the Bearcats to lose the ball 16 times. The Pirates committed 11 turnovers.

Willamette will take on George Fox University, ranked #2 in the D3hoops.com Top 25, on Tuesday, Feb. 16 in Newberg, Oregon. Game time is scheduled for 6 p.m. (PST).