Coupeville Sports

   Makana Stone (far right), has graduated to being a college basketball starter. (John Fisken photo)

Makana Stone is settling into being a starter quite nicely.

The former Coupeville star made her second start as a college player Tuesday night and responded with 10 points, 10 rebounds and three assists, sparking the Whitman College women’s basketball squad to its second straight win.

The Blues held off a late rally from host Whitworth to exit Spokane with a 71-65 win.

Whitman is now 16-2 overall, 7-2 in Northwest Conference play, and pulls within a game-and-a-half of first place Puget Sound (8-0).

Since inserting their freshman phenom in the starting lineup, the Blues have been unbeatable.

Stone started things off by knocking down the game’s opening basket, on a layup in the paint, then went off in the second quarter.

She dropped eight of her points and snatched five caroms as Whitman used a 20-13 second quarter surge to stake itself to a 14-point lead at the break.

After her first-half explosion, Stone started dealing the ball to her teammates, picking up all three of her assists in the second half.

Toss in four more rebounds and she had her first collegiate double-double.

Chelsi Brewer hit for 13 and Maegen Martin swished 11, as the Blues put three players in double figures in the scoring column.

In 18 games, Stone has 95 points (5.3 a night) and 97 boards (5.4).

She’s third on the squad in rebounding, while also having 18 assists, seven blocks and 11 steals.