Shogren scored 27 points and grabbed 14 rebounds to lead the Pirates, who are 8-0 and ranked 19th in the WBCA Division III poll. Shogren, one of two preseason All-Americans on the Pirate roster, made 12 of 15 shots and also added four assists. Dani Bielec added 20 points for the Bucs, while Whitworth's other All-American, Tiffany Speer, totaled 14 points and seven rebounds. Wenchi Liu dished seven assists.
Carroll, also ranked 19th, but in the NAIA Division I poll, fell to 12-4. Andrea Hall came off of the bench to lead the Saints with 22 points. Emili Woody scored 18 and grabbed 13 rebounds, while Laci High chipped in with a dozen points.
Whitworth took a 25-13 lead late in the first half after a three-pointer by Emily Hendrickson. But Carroll pulled back to within 27-24 on a basket by Hall. However Bielec hit a pair of three-pointers in the final minute to give the Pirates a 33-24 lead at half time.
Whitworth took its biggest lead of the game (43-27) just over three minutes into the second half on back to back baskets by Speer and Shogren. But Carroll fought back to within 48-40 when Rachel Bromily scored with 12:38 to go. The Saints pulled as close as 58-51 after a three-pointer by Carly Syverson with 5:40 to play, but Whitworth's Wenchi Liu banked in a three-pointer of her own to reestablish a ten-point cushion. The Pirates made 9/12 free throws in the final minute to keep the Saints at bay.
Whitworth will play Concordia College (Moorhead, Minn.) in the Whit Holiday Classic finale on Thursday night at 8:00 pm. Carroll will play Whitman College at 6:00 pm. Concordia defeated Whitman 56-47 in the Classic's first contest.
WHITWORTH 78, CARROLL (MONT.) 68 CARROLL (MONT.) (12-4) Hall, Andrea 7-13 5-6 22; Woody, Emili 6-17 5-8 18; High, Laci 5-12 1-2 13; Syverson, Carly 2-7 0-0 6; Bromiley, Rachel 2-6 0-0 4; Priddy, Catie 0-1 3-4 3; Fuzesy, Jolene 1-7 0-0 2; Rodgers, Katie 0-3 0-2 0; Tomco, Vanessa 0-1 0-0 0; Jensen, Angie 0-2 0-0 0; Shaw, Kaylee 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 23-72 14-22 68. WHITWORTH (8-0) Shogren, Sarah 12-15 2-3 27; Bielec, Dani 5-10 7-8 20; Speer, Tiffany 4-8 5-10 14; Liu, Wenchi 2-5 2-5 7; Coppin, Kristie 3-9 1-4 7; Hendrickson, Emily 1-4 0-0 3; Gradley, Holley 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 27-52 17-30 78. Carroll (Mont.)............... 24 44 - 68 Whitworth..................... 33 45 - 78 3-point goals-Carroll (Mont.) 8-26 (Hall, Andrea 3-6; Syverson, Carly 2-4; High, Laci 2-6; Woody, Emili 1-4; Shaw, Kaylee 0-2; Fuzesy, Jolene 0-4), Whitworth 7-15 (Bielec, Dani 3-6; Hendrickson, Emily 1-2; Liu, Wenchi 1-1; Shogren, Sarah 1-1; Speer, Tiffany 1-4; Coppin, Kristie 0-1). Fouled out--Carroll (Mont.)-Bromiley, Rachel; Syverson, Carly, Whitworth-None. Rebounds-Carroll (Mont.) 42 (Woody, Emili 13), Whitworth 43 (Shogren, Sarah 14). Assists-Carroll (Mont.) 11 (Syverson, Carly 4), Whitworth 21 (Liu, Wenchi 7). Total fouls-Carroll (Mont.) 27, Whitworth 16. A-250 Second game of the Quality Inn Whit Holiday Classic.