WHEATON, Ill. – Whitworth's fourth quarter comeback fell short in a 75-69 loss to Wheaton in the second matchup for the women's basketball team in the Beth Baker Classic.
The Pirates (1-1) cut the Thunder's (2-1) 13-point fourth quarter lead to just three before Wheaton closed the game with timely free throws.
Whitworth got out to a 9-0 lead to start the game behind five early points from Mya Bair. The lead would not last as Wheaton caught fire and finished the quarter on a 27-9 run while shooting 71% from the floor during that stretch.
The Pirates would return the favor with a 12-3 run of their own to start the second quarter and knotted the score at 30 with 5:27 left in the half. Skylar Tuckwood scored five straight points during the run with a made layup and a three-pointer. Both teams would trade baskets before Alyssa Faberowski's jumpshot just before the buzzer gave the Thunder a 41-40 lead at halftime. Mya Bair and Skylar Tuckwood led the Pirates with eight points each at the half.
Keely Maves made layup to give Whitworth the lead at the start of the third quarter, but it would be just one of four Pirate field goals made in the quarter on 26.7% shooting. Wheaton outscored Whitworth 20-10 before heading into the final quarter with a 61-50 lead.
The poor shooting would subside as Mya Bair nailed two threes and Ashlyn Neilsen added another to cut the lead to 66-63 with 5:32 left to play. That would be as close as the Pirates got as Alyssa Faberowski made a three-pointer and the Thunder added four free throws to put the game out of reach. The Thunder shot 7-10 from the line in the fourth quarter.
Whitworth had four players in double figures, Mya Bair leading the way with 16 points on 6-7 shooting and eight rebounds. Ashlyn Peterson added 13 points, Julianna Jeross scored 11 and Ashlyn Neilsen finished with 10. The Pirates made 13 three-pointers in the game and shot 35.9% (23-64) from the floor.
Kate Oliver had 17 points and 12 rebounds to lead Wheaton.
The Whitworth women will host Walla Walla in their home opener on Thursday, November 21st.
