Kevin Blocker

Whitworth used a sweltering defense and withstood a late-game shooting spree by Willamette to win 70-65 Friday night and move into a tie with the Bearcats in the Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges. The Pirates, ranked No. 8 in the NAIA Division II men's basketball poll, turned away the 18th-ranked Bearcats at the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

Pacific Lutheran University's Erik Peterson rejected a Kevin Wright 3-point attempt with 6 seconds left, helping preserve the Lutes' 89-85 men's basketball upset of Whitworth College on Friday night. The NAIA Division II No. 7-ranked Pirates (4-3 Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges, 14-7 overall) couldn't overcome a spirited Lutes team (2-5, 8-12) and its dimly-lit gymnasium clad with orange and yellow curtains on one side of the court.

The Gonzaga women's basketball team withstood a late 25-9 Saint Mary's run and went on to defeat the Gaels 82-75 in overtime Thursday night at the Martin Centre. In many respects it was a mustwin for the Bulldogs (2-3 West Coast Conference, 7-9). "Oh my gosh - it was huge," said GU's Joy Pauley, who scored a game-high 25 points. "We've talked, we've had meetings - it was just time to go out and do it on the court."

Ivy Safranski says ex-GU coach Julie Holt took "a special quality" - motivation - to Idaho. Photo by Craig Buck/The Spokesman-Review

EWU's Jennifer Sutter robs Kelli Johnson, helping the Eagles beat Idaho for their first Big Sky Conference win of the season. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

At least for a night, the Whitworth women's basketball team could enjoy sole possession of first place in the Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges after the Pirates beat Lewis & Clark 66-62 Friday night at the Whitworth Field House. Whitworth (4-1 NCIC, 9-10 overall) moved a half-game up on Willamette, which played a non-conference game. Tonight, Willamette (3-1, 11-4) entertains Pacific Lutheran University. For the second weekend in a row, Whitworth's Pirates were the epitome of a cohesive unit. And a lot of that has to do with the play of point guard Kim McFadden.

Whitworth's Sean Weston fights for control of the ball as the Pioneers' Perry Lam gives chase. Photo by Molly O'Hara/The Spokesman-Review

College women Washington State University's Susie Jarosch ended up finishing where she started. Her jump shot with 2.1 seconds left gave the Cougars a 62-61 win over the 20th-ranked Southern California Trojans on Saturday night in a Pacific-10 Conference game at Pullman's Friel Court. The Cougars (2-2, 9-4) trailed 61-60 after the Trojans' Tina Thompson hit a baseline jumper with 6.9 seconds left.

Tully

Hell week on college campuses is usually considered the week of finals. For the Washington State women's basketball team, hell week is preparation for Southern California and UCLA. The Cougars host the Bruins at Friel Court Thursday at 7 p.m. and then host the Trojans, also on Friel Court, at 7 p.m. Saturday. Since joining the Pac-10, the Cougars are 7-25 against both schools - 2-14 against UCLA and 5-11 against Southern Cal.

Watching the Whitworth Pirates men's basketball team shoot the basketball against Pacific Lutheran University Saturday night was like watching a group of 5-year-olds throw Nerf balls into a toilet bowl. No one could miss. Whitworth defeated PLU 112-76 at the Whitworth Fieldhouse for its first win of the Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges season. Whitworth's point total was its highest of the season.