Coupeville Sports

   High school or college, no one gets between Makana Stone and a rebound. (John Fisken photo)

Makana Stone is a difference maker.

When the Coupeville High School grad checked in early in the second quarter Tuesday, her Whitman College women’s basketball team was clinging to a 22-21 lead against host Multnomah.

But with Stone on the floor, the Blues broke the game open with a 19-4 run and never looked back, rolling to a 73-52 non-conference win.

The victory lifts Whitman to 4-0 on the season.

A key part of the surge came thanks to Stone’s patented ability to clean the boards, as she hauled down seven of her season-best eight rebounds during the second quarter.

She also scored all four of her points, hitting a layup and slipping a pair of free-throws through the twines.

Chelsi Brewer paced Whitman with a game-high 21, while Emily Rommel and Maegen Martin hit for 11 points apiece.

Stone had three assists and a steal to go with her four points and eight rebounds.

Through the first four games of her college career, the former Wolf is averaging 7.3 points (#4 on the team) and 5.8 rebounds (#2) while coming off the bench for the Blues.

Her shooting percentage of 61.9% (13 of 21) is tops on the squad.

Whitman plays back-to-back nights in Portland, with a game against Warner Pacific Wednesday night. The Blues are then off until Dec. 2.