Coupeville Sports

   Who’s got two thumbs and is undefeated as a college basketball starter? Makana Stone, that’s who. (John Fisken photo)

The key has got to be Makana Stone.

After hitting its only rough patch of the season with a two-game losing streak, the Whitman College women’s basketball squad inserted the freshman into the starting lineup and presto, back to a winning formula.

Tossing in four points and snaring five boards Friday night while being limited a bit by foul trouble, the former Wolf helped spark her new team to a 76-63 win at Forest Grove, Oregon against Pacific University.

The win lifts Whitman to 18-2 overall, 9-2 in Northwest Conference play, with five regular season games left.

The Blues are a crisp 4-0 with Stone taking the floor as a starter.

Friday night she opened the second quarter by drilling a jumper that gave Whitman a 14-13 lead it would never relinquish.

Stone brought the full highlight package to the floor in the third, when she snared a board, led the break and dished it to teammate Chelsi Brewer for a layup.

The Blues remain in Oregon for the night, traveling to McMinnville for an afternoon game Saturday against Linfield College.

Through her first 20 college games, Stone has dropped 113 points (5.7 a night) and snared 112 rebounds (5.6).

She’s #2 on the team in rebounds and her field goal percentage of 48.5% (49 of 101) is #3 among Blues players who’ve taken at least 10 shots this season.

Stone has also compiled 20 assists, 12 steals and seven blocks.