WHITTIER, Calif. -- Whitworth jumped to an 11-point first half lead but could not sustain the momentum as the visiting Pirates fell 76-61 at Whittier in a non-conference women's basketball game on Friday night at the Graham Athletics Center.

Emily Guthrie scored eight straight points, including back to back three-pointers, to help the Pirates take a 22-11 lead with just over 12 minutes to play in the first half. But the Poets responded with a 13-0 run over the next four minutes to take a 24-22 lead. Guthrie answered with another three and the teams traded leads four more times until Bethany Fleming hit a short jumper for the Bucs to tie the game at 36-36 heading into halftime.

The Poets opened the second half on an 8-0 run, including back to back layups by Tina Merlino, to quickly open a 44-36 lead. Later in the half Lauren Picha hit a three-pointer to pull Whitworth within 54-50 with 9:40 to play, but Whittier went on a 12-0 run take a 66-50 lead with 6:13 to play. The Pirates could never get the lead back below double digits and the Poets eventually led by as many as 20 points (74-54) late in the game.

Whitworth shot the ball well from three point range, making 50% (11-22). But the Bucs were only 11-34 on the rest of their shots and committed a season-high 24 turnovers.

Guthrie led Whitworth with 18 points, while Emily Travis added 11 points. Picha finished with eight points and a team-high six assists and Kendra Lahue came off of the bench for a team-high six rebounds.

Five Poets reached double figures - lead by Kourtney Zilbert and Brittany Aranda with 16 each. Alex Coon and Alex Basset had 11 points each. Zilbert led all players with 13 rebounds.

Whitworth will finish its trip to California with a Saturday night contest at University of La Verne. Tip off is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.