Jessica Thoens scores 17 points and Whitworth women knock off Willamette

Jessica Thoens scored 17 points and Whitworth (8-11, 4-6) knocked off visiting Willamette (10-8, 3-6) 68-62 in Northwest Conference play on Friday.

Thoens was 5 of 10 from the field and 6 of 8 from the line with three assists. Madison Moffat grabbed 12 rebounds with three steals to go with seven points.

Grace Douglas, Callie Harwood and Erika Kuehn all scored nine points apiece for the Bucs.

Sarah Heinly led Willamette with 14 points off the bench and Kylie Towry added 11.

Whitworth trailed 38-30 at halftime, but went on an 18-2 run in the third to seize momentum. A jumper by Thoens with 5:49 to go gave the Pirates a 16-point lead.

Willamette whittled its deficit to six on several occasions down the stretch but couldn’t get over the hump.

Whitworth travels to Linfield on Friday at 6 p.m.