SPOKANE, Wash. – Harassing visiting Rutgers-Newark into 31 turnovers, Whitworth ran away from the Scarlet Raiders for an 82-37 non-conference women's basketball victory on Thursday night at the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

The 24th-ranked Pirates used the extra possessions to hit 13-27 (48.1%) from three-point range and improve to 2-0 this season.  Rutgers-Newark dropped to 1-1.

Whitworth never trailed.  The Pirates jumped to an 11-0 lead three minutes into the game as Lexie Zappone scored twice and Kendra Knutsen hit a three-pointer.  The Scarlet Raiders got within 20-13 on a layup  by Jade Howard, but that was as close as they would get as JoJo Nicolas answered with a three-pointer for the Pirates.  Leading 32-18 with 7:11 to play in the half, the Whitworth defense did not allow another point for the rest of the period and outscored Rutgers-Newark 12-0 to take a 44-18 lead into halftime.  The Scarlet Raiders had nearly as many turnovers in the first half (19) as shots taken (22). 

"I thought we started out ready to play," said head coach Helen Higgs.  "The 11-0 start really set a tone for us."

The Pirates closed out any hope of a comeback by outscoring Rutgers-Newark 27-6 to open the second half, taking a 71-24 lead with just under nine minutes to play on a three-pointer by Briann Maley.

All 16 Whitworth players in uniform saw action and 12 of them scored.  KC McConnell led the way with 14 points.  She added six teams and four assists.  Jessica Kramer and Faith Emerson finished with ten points apiece.  Emerson and Zappone led the Bucs with five rebounds each as Whitworth finished with a 34-30 edge on the boards.  The Pirates had an efficient offensive night, getting assists on 18 of their 28 baskets.  Whitworth was 28-63 (44.4%) overall from the floor.

"We maintained intensity throughout, which is sometimes hard in a game like this," Higgs said.

Howard finished with 12 points and seven rebounds to lead Rutgers-Newark in both categories.  The Scarlet Raiders were 17-43 (39.5%) from the floor, but 0-5 from beyond the arc.

Whitworth returns to action right after Thanksgiving at the College of Idaho Lady 'Yote Classic, facing a rematch with Eastern Oregon University on the opening day (Nov. 28).