SALEM, Ore. -- The game might have started late, but once it got going visiting Whitworth sprinted out to a big early lead and cruised to an 80-60 win over Willamette in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game on Saturday night at Cone Field House.

Emily Travis scored 14 of her points in the first half and Taylor (LaMoreaux) Taylor scored 14 points in the second half to help Whitworth improve to 7-8 overall and 3-3 in the NWC. The Bucs split their road trip to Oregon.

The game start was delayed 20 minutes after the referees arrived late. But it didn't impact Travis, who scored ten points early to help the Pirates sprint to a 16-2 lead less than five minutes into the game.

Willamette (1-12, 0-6) did pull back within 34-27 with five minutes to play in the period, but Whitworth outscored the Bearcats 12-6 over the rest of the half to take a 46-33 lead into halftime.

Jamie Lyons drained a three-pointer to give Whitworth a 55-40 lead early in the second period. Then Taylor went to work, scoring 14 of her season-high 17 points after the break. The Pirates took their largest lead of the game (74-48) after a pair of free throws by Kayla Johnson.

The Pirates hit 43% (26-60) from the field in the game, including 52% (17-33) in the decisive first half. Whitworth outrebounded the Bearcats 43-27, including a 14-7 edge in offensive rebounds.

Taylor added a career-high 10 rebounds for the first double-double of her career. Travis finished with 16 points, six rebounds and four assists while Lyons scored 10 points.

Kaileigh Westermann led Willamette with 16 points, 12 of which came before halftime.

Whitworth will host Whitman College on Tuesday night at the Whitworth Fieldhouse.