Coupeville grad Makana Stone (middle) has helped lead Whitman to a 21-1 record this season. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
Their names are similar, but their games are not.
The Whitman College women’s basketball squad is as hot as any in the nation right now, and nothing changed Tuesday as it faced down Whitworth University.
The Blues, ranked #2 in the most-recent NCAA D-III coach’s poll, made it 21 straight wins, thumping their hosts 83-49.
Now, Whitman and its sophomore sensation, Coupeville grad Makana Stone, carry their 13-0 mark in the Northwest Conference (21-1 overall) into the biggest game of the year.
That comes this Saturday, Feb. 10, when Whitman makes its final regular season road trip, heading to Newberg, OR to face George Fox (11-1, 18-3).
The first time the two teams met, back in Jan. 12, Whitman won 77-71 in Walla Walla.
Tuesday, the Blues ran into a Whitworth squad hovering in the bottom third of their nine-team league, and quickly dispatched the Pirates.
After jumping out 16-9 at the first break, Whitman stretched the lead to 10 by halftime, then decimated Whitworth in the second half.
A 32-14 third quarter surge destroyed any chances the Pirates had to stage a comeback, allowing the Blues to clear their bench and cruise home for the win.
Stone was a warrior in the paint, dropping in 10 points, hauling down a college career-high 14 rebounds, dealing out two assists, pilfering a steal and soundly rejecting a Whitworth shot.
Seven of those boards came on the offensive glass.
It was the 12th time Stone has recorded double digit rebound totals in a game during her two years at Whitman, with her previous single-game high being 11 caroms retrieved.
For the season, she has 290 points (#2 on the team), 153 rebounds (#1), 42 assists, four blocks and 16 steals.
Stone is shooting 53% from the field (124 of 223) and 76% from the line (42-55).
Coupeville Sports 
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