PORTLAND, Ore. - Junior Carl Appleton picked up his third double-double of the season on Saturday night in the Pioneers 62-47 Northwest Conference loss to Whitworth. 

The loss drops the Pioneers to 5-6 on the season and in search of their first NWC win (0-2). The The defending conference champions improve to 9-2 overall and 2-0 in conference. 

Appleton needed a team-high 20 points for the Pioneers, while pulling down a game-high 13 rebounds. The junior forward ended the night 9-of-15 from the floor and 2-of-6 from the free-throw line. Serg Ovchinnikov was the only other Pioneers to finish in double-figures in scoring with 13 points. 

George Valle led the Pirates with a game-high 22 points and eight boards. Kenny Love knocked down 13 points for Whitworth, while teammate Christian Jurlina scored 10. 

Appleton put the Pioneers ahead at the start with a layup with 17:58 on the clock. The Pirates responded with a three-pointer that would help spark a 12-2 run over the next three minutes. That would be as close as the Pioneers would get in the first half with the Pirates taking a 38-18 advantage into the locker room. 

Appleton would pull the Pioneers within 12 points with 5:19 left in the contest, but that would be as close as L&C would manage to get. 

The Pioneers head to Pacific for their next contest, taking on the Boxers on Friday, Jan. 9 at 8 p.m.