WALLA WALLA, Wash. - The Lewis & Clark women's basketball team rallied to come back from an 18 point deficit on Saturday evening at Whitman, but the Pioneers were unable to pull out the victory, falling 56-52 in Northwest Conference action. 

The Pioneers are now 6-13 on the season with a 3-7 conference standing. The Missionaries, who are currently in third place in the NWC, have a 12-7 overall record and 7-3 NWC record. 

Ayisat Afolabi led the Pioneers with 13 points, finishing 4-of-8 from the floor and 4-of-7 from the free-throw line. The sophomore guard also led the team with six rebounds, while dishing out two assists and collecting four steals.  Freshman Lauren Wood ended the night with nine points and five rebounds, while both Sarah Anderson and Miyah Leith each scored seven points. Anderson also stole the ball away from the Missionaries three times.

Heather Johns led all players with 16 points, while Hailey Ann Maeda ended the night with 12 points. 

The Missionaries, who never trailed in the contest, quickly surged to an 11-3 lead in the opening seven minutes of the game. Whitman continued to play up-tempo in the first half with the Pioneers unable to find an answer. The Pios trailed 35-20 heading into the intermission.

Things did not get better for Lewis & Clark at the start of the second half with the Missionaries extending their lead to 18 points, their largest of the contest. Whitman would hold a double-digit advantage over half of the second period.

The Pioneers finally found a way back in the game, putting together a series of small offensive bursts that slowly chipped away at the Missionary lead. The most significant run came toward the end of the contest with the Pios going on a 14-3 run heading into the final seconds of the contest.

Leith drained a three-pointer with :34 seconds left to play that pulled the Pioneers within two points. In an effort to get the ball back the Pioneers quickly fouled, sending Johns to the line where the senior made both her free-throws to extend Whitman's lead back to four.

The Pioneers were able to pull off two three-pointers in the final :29 seconds of the game but neither dropped.

Next up Lewis & Clark travels to Pacific Lutheran on Friday, Feb. 6 for a 6 p.m. tip.