TACOMA, Wash. – RaeAnn Allen scored 20 points to lead Puget Sound back from a ten-point, first half deficit in a 79-69 win over visiting Whitworth at Memorial Fieldhouse on Friday night in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game.

The Pirates (10-8 overall, 3-6 NWC) hit a cold stretch that spanned eight minutes from the end of the third through the beginning of the fourth quarters, allowing the Loggers (9-9, 3-6) to pull away. 

Whitworth made 50% of its shots in the first quarter, including 2-4 from three-point range, allowing the Pirates to jump out to a 20-10 lead halfway through the opening period.  Whitworth led 22-17 after one, behind six points each by Talia Brandner and Quincy McDeid. 

The Bucs stretched the lead back to 31-22 halfway through the second on a free throw by Jordan Smith, but Puget Sound was able to cut the margin to 33-28 at halftime.  Whitworth cooled off in the second quarter, shooting only 25% (3-12) form the floor, including 1-6 from beyond the arc.

The Pirates scored the first two baskets of the third quarter to open a 37-28 lead, but Puget Sound fought back to tie the score 44-44 on a three-pointer by Allen halfway through the third period. Whitworth only scored two more points the rest of the quarter, allowing the Loggers to take a 50-46 lead into the final period.

The Pirates' cold stretch continued as Puget Sound outscored Whitworth 12-2 over the first four minutes of the fourth quarter to open a 62-48 lead on an Allen jumper.  The margin reached 66-51 before the Pirates made one more charge.  Quincy McDeid opened a 9-0 Whitworth run with a three-pointer and the Bucs got within 66-60 on two Megan Dorney free throws with 2:10 to play.  But the Loggers went 13 of 14 from the free throw line over the final 90 seconds to pull away again.

McDeid and Sydney Abbott scored 15 points apiece to lead the Pirates.  Abbott added four assists and four steals.  Jordan Smith finished with 13 points.  Courtney Gray had seven points and led Whitworth with nine rebounds.

Allen scored 15 of her game-high point total after halftime.  Jamie Lange posted a double-double with 17 points and 15 rebounds.  Mara Henderson went 3-4 from three-point range and finished with 19 points.  The Loggers dominated the backboards, outrebounding Whitworth 45-30.

Whitworth will try to earn a split of its Tacoma trip when the Pirates play at Pacific Lutheran on Saturday.