SPOKANE, Wash. – Whitworth women's tennis lost to Lewis-Clark State 7-2 in its regular season finale on Saturday, but clinched a spot in the conference tournament following Linfield's loss to Lewis & Clark.

The Pirates (9-8, 4-3 NWC) entered Saturday's non-conference match awaiting several conference results to figure out their place in the NWC tournament. The Pioneers knocked off Linfield which clinches Whitworth's spot, they may end up as the third seed if L&C manages to beat Pacific on Sunday.

Whitworth scored both its points in doubles, taking two of three there. The top duo of Gracie Smyley and Clara Todd were sharp in an 8-1 win, the #3 pair of Meredith Bedford and Jordan Turner-Esposito pulled off an 8-6 win to give the Pirates the early advantage.

That lead vanished quickly however as the Warriors (7-18) swept all six individual matches. Smyley fell to #1 Rayana Shah 6-4, 6-4, 6-1 and #4 Turner-Esposito lost to Maria Silva 6-2, 6-1, 6-2. The other four matches were decided in just two sets.

Whitworth will await its seed and prepare for the conference tournament next weekend.