It was a night to remember for Whitworth University on Saturday, as the Pirates sent both of its basketball programs on to the NCAA Division III tournament with wins in the Northwest Conference Tournament.
The Whitworth Men jumped to a 21-point halftime lead and led by as many as 33 points in the second half against Whitman, 93-72. Whitworth earns its seventh NWC tournament title in a row and will make its seventh straight trip to the NCAA Division III tournament (eighth overall). Mack Larkin had a career high 22 points to lead the Bucs. The men's field will be announced on Monday morning at 9:30 am.
In the Women's Championship game in Portland, the third-seeded Whitworth upset top-seeded Lewis & Clark on the road, 77-61. The Pirates get the win over the top-seeded Pioneers in Portland to earn their first trip to the NCAA Division III tournament since 2000 (second overall) and first conference tournament crown since 1995. Whitworth is now 21-6 and awaits word on where and when the team will open the NCAA Division III tournament, which will be announced on Monday morning (scheduled for 11:30 am).
This is the first time that Whitworth has had both teams make the national tournament in the same year.
