SPOKANE, Wash. - The Lewis & Clark women's basketball team hit the road Friday night, taking on the #17 Whitworth Pirates for the second round of Northwest Conference action. The Pioneers fell to the hosts 56-46.

The Pioneers, who fall to 6-12 on the season and 3-6 in NWC play, are just one of two conference teams to hold the Pirates to under 60 points in a win so far this season. The Pioneers have done it twice. The nationally ranked Pirates improve to 17-1 overall and 8-1 in conference. 

Sophomore Ayisat Afolabi led the Pioneers with 12 points on 4-of-7 shooting from the floor, while draining all four of her free-throws. The guard also finished tied with a team-high five rebounds, while picking up a team-leading three assists and a steal. Miyah Leith and Sarah Anderson each netted nine points for the Pios, while Lauren Wood knocked down eight. Wood also collected five boards. 

Lexie Zappone led all players with a game-high 19 points for Whitworth, while teammate Katara Belton-Sharp scored 12. KC McConnell ended the night with a game-high six rebounds. 

The Pioneers started the game strong, scoring the first four points of the contest with a jumper by Afolabi and layup by Wood. The Pirates came back but not before Afolabi knotted the game up at 10-10 with 14:40 on the clock. Zappone responded 10 seconds later with a three-pointer that sparked a 10-2 run that lasted six minutes. Despite taking their chances the Pioneers would only net four more points before halftime, taking a 25-18 deficit into the locker room. 

Leith made it a five-point game with 19:25 on the clock with a quick second half layup. Lewis & Clark kept Whitworth within striking distance for the first six minutes of the second half, matching the Pirates basket for basket. The Pirates managed to pull out their first double-digit lead of the game with 12:19 to go on a Kendra Knutsen jumper.

Anderson drained a three pointer off a steal with 5:15 left that pulled the Pioneers back within single digits, making it a 51-42 contest. Natalie Kelly helped cut the deficit further with a jumper at the 4:28 mark, pulling the Pioneers within seven.  Zappone scored the final points of the game with 1:04 left on a layup, followed by a free-throw, extending the Pirates win to 10 points. 

The Pioneers take on Whitman on Saturday, Jan. 31 in Walla Walla with tipoff set for 4 p.m.