SPOKANE, Wash. – The Pacific Lutheran University women's basketball team couldn't withstand a late, fourth-quarter rally by Whitworth University and suffered a tough loss to the Pirates in Spokane. 
 
Clinging to a one-point lead at the start of the fourth quarter, the Lute lead swelled to 11 as the visitors scored the first 10 points of the final frame.   PLU's full court press really picked up steam in the fourth, forcing the Pirates into three straight turnovers that led to easy layups.  Senior Madison Salisbury was on the receiving end of three of those transition baskets, scoring six of her 10 points during the run.   
 
The Pirates withstood the Lute run though, and went on a 7-0 run of their own and tied the score at 68 on a made three-pointer by Talia Brandner.  Emma Janousek gave PLU a brief lead when she sunk a layup with 1:32 remaining, but Whitworth scored 9 of the next 11 to take control of the game.  Janousek scored four straight points with under 20 seconds remaining, but her layup as time expired didn't go and Whitworth escaped with the win. 
 
Janousek and sophomore Toni Thibert carried the Lutes offensively, combining for 40 of the team's 76 points.  The senior guard poured in 23 points to go with seven assists, seven steals and six rebounds. 
 
Whitworth was led by Megan Dorney with 18 and Quincy McDeid with 16.  Talia Brandner added 14 and Macey Morales reached double figures with 10. 
 
The Lutes will look to exact some revenge on the Pirates tomorrow when the two teams square off for a rematch at 3:00 p.m.