PARKLAND, Wash. – Pacific Lutheran opened the fourth quarter with a 14-2 run on the way to an 80-71 win over visiting Whitworth in a Northwest Conference women's basketball game on Saturday night, ending a 14-game losing streak to the Pirates.

Whitworth (10-9 overall, 3-7 NWC) entered the fourth quarter with a 55-54 lead after rallying from nine points behind in the third.  The Pirates then missed 10 of their first 11 shots in the final period and PLU (9-10, 4-6) took advantage with the game-deciding run.

Jordan Smith hit a pair of three-pointers to help Whitworth jump out to a 10-0 lead in the game's first two minutes.  But the Lutes rallied to take their first lead at 14-13 on Toni Thibert's layup.  Talia Brander's three-pointer capped a quick 5-0 run for the Bucs and Whitworth led 20-18 after one quarter.

PLU opened the second quarter with a 7-0 run, going ahead 25-20 on a layup by Kylie Rademacher.  The Lutes stretched their advantage to 30-24 before Whitworth fought back to go ahead 33-32 on Courtney Gray's basket with just under two minutes left in the half.  The Lutes finished the period with a small flurry and led 38-35 at halftime.

After Gray made a free throw to open the third, PLU's Katie Taylor made back to back three-pointers to put the Lutes ahead 44-36.  Megan Drake's basket extended PLU's lead to 49-40 halfway through the third.  But the Pirates rebounded behind Quincy McDeid.  She started a Pirate run with a layup and ended it with a three-pointer, allowing Whitworth to take its one-point lead after three quarters.

Jorie Lambert and Taylor hit three-pointers during PLU's game-winning run at the start of the fourth.  After starting the period 1 of 11 from the field, Whitworth was able to cut the margin back to six points on several occasions down the stretch, including 70-64 on Sydney Abbott's basket with 3:40 left.  But the Pirates were not able to get any closer as PLU hit key shots to keep the Bucs at bay. 

McDeid scored 16 of her team-high 18 points in the second half.  She tied with Gray for the team lead with seven rebounds.  Brandner had 11 points and dished seven assists.  Whitworth had a 35-27 edge in rebounding, but the Pirates turned the ball over 22 times.

Taylor scored 16 points to lead PLU, while Drake scored 15 and grabbed six boards.  Janousek had a double-double with 10 points and 11 assists.  The Lutes shot 51.7% (30-58) from the floor, including 9-21 (43%) from three-point range, to earn their first win over Whitworth since Feb. 4, 2012.

Whitworth will return to the road next weekend with games at Lewis & Clark and Willamette.