No. 6 Whitworth off to school’s best start

Ryan Symes was 9 for 13 from the field and finished with a game-high 24 points and nine rebounds as the Whitworth Pirates remained perfect on the season with an 83-53 rout of George Fox (6-6, 2-2) in a men’s basketball game Saturday in Newberg, Ore.

James Jones added 17 points for the sixth-ranked Pirates (13-0, 4-0), who are off to their best start in team history.

Whitworth returns home Friday for a showdown with No. 13 Puget Sound.

“Ben Mitchell made a 12-foot baseline jumper with 1 minute remaining in regulation to give Community Colleges of Spokane its final lead in an 80-79 win over visiting Yakima Valley (8-8, 0-2) in an NWAACC contest.

Mitchell, who finished with 25 points, was 12 for 17 from the field and had five rebounds for the Sasquatch (8-9, 1-1).

Jon Clift added 14 points for CCS and teammates Bo Gregg and Eric Beal chipped in 11 points apiece.

“Geoff Payne was 11 for 12 from the field, finishing with 24 points, as Snow (10-4, 2-2) topped visiting North Idaho 89-75 in Scenic West Athletic Conference action in Ephraim, Utah.

Five Cardinals (9-5, 1-3) reached double-digit scoring, led by Scott Stockwell’s 14 points.

Women’s basketball

Joy Hollingsworth scored 11 of her 18 points in the second half to lead the Arizona (7-10, 1-4) Wildcats to a 59-57 Pacific-10 Conference victory over Washington State at Tucson, Ariz.

Washington State’s Katie Appleton had a career-high 22 points. Marisa Stotler scored 10 for the Cougars (5-11, 1-5).

Washington State missed two chances to tie the game in the final 11 seconds after Nakejia Kelly was blocked and Amanda DuRocher shot an air ball with one second remaining.

“Tamara Guardipee scored 18 to lead five Montana players in double-digit scoring as the Grizzlies (14-1, 2-0) routed Eastern Washington 92-55 in Big Sky Conference action.

Joanna Chadd had 12 points for the Eagles (6-9, 1-1) and Sydney Benson added nine points and 12 rebounds.

“Elise Kuenzi led all players with 17 points and teammate Melissa Marek-Farris added 15 points, 11 in the first half, and eight rebounds as George Fox rolled past Whitworth (9-4, 3-1) in Northwest Conference action at Newberg, Ore.

The game was tied five times in the first seven minutes before the Bruins (7-4, 3-1) went on a 10-0 run to take the lead for good.

“Tana Stickey and Lisa Bishop combined for 38 points and 10 rebounds as visiting Yakima Valley (16-1, 2-0) edged Community Colleges of Spokane 71-68 in Northwest Athletic Association of Community Colleges play.

Shantel Haugen led the Sasquatch (10-5, 0-2) with 26 points and six rebounds. Teammate Liz Beardslee contributed 17 points and a game-high eight rebounds.

“Traci Graham shot 9 of 16 from the field, 5 of 8 from 3-point range, en route to 26 points as the Nevada Wolf Pack (7-7, 1-0) defeated the Idaho Vandals 78-68 in a Western Athletic Conference contest at Moscow, Idaho

Sara Dennehy led the Vandals (3-10, 0-2) with 25 points, while Lindsey Koppen scored 20.

“ShaNae Horner and Kim Gamblin scored 14 points apiece and combined for 19 rebounds as Snow came back for a 51-50 win over North Idaho in Scenic West Athletic Conference action in Ephraim, Utah.

The Cardinals (10-4, 2-2) surrendered a 31-16 halftime lead as the Badgers (8-6, 1-3) outscored them 35-19 in the second half.