Coupeville Sports

   Makana Stone scored 16 points Saturday, but Whitman’s 21-game winning streak was snapped by George Fox. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

It was nice while it lasted.

Despite a 16-point, seven-rebound performance Saturday from Coupeville grad Makana Stone, the Whitman College women’s basketball squad lost for the first time in nearly three months.

Unable to recover from a late-game run by host George Fox University, the Blues fell 80-68, snapping their 21-game winning streak.

Whitman, now 13-1 in Northwest Conference play, 21-2 overall, hadn’t lost since its season opener way back on Nov. 15.

With the win, George Fox (13-1, 20-3) earned a season split with the Blues, garnered revenge for a loss in mid-Jan. and moved into a first-place tie.

Both teams have two regular-season games remaining next weekend.

Whitman hosts Willamette University (10-4) Friday and Linfield College (5-9) Saturday while George Fox hosts Lewis & Clark College (8-6) and Pacific University (3-11).

While they’re still fighting for the league title, Whitman and George Fox have clinched the top two slots and will host the league’s postseason tourney semifinal games Feb. 22.

Saturday’s battle royal came down to free throws (George Fox made 29 to Whitman’s 14), foul trouble for the Blues and one decisive fourth-quarter surge by the host squad.

After battling back from eight points down at the first break, Whitman regained the lead in the third quarter behind Stone.

The former Wolf had been locked to the bench for much of the first half after picking up two fouls, but the sophomore sensation came flying out of the halftime locker room to throw down eight points in the third quarter.

The game was still up for grabs with George Fox clinging to a 61-60 lead with seven minutes to play, but then every Whitman player not wearing #23 (Stone’s number) went ice-cold from the field.

The Bruins, taking full advantage of numerous trips to the free throw line, went on a 19-6 surge, with Stone the only Blue able to score.

With her 16-point performance, Stone passed two milestones — 300 points on the season and 500 for her career.

She sits with 306 and 514 respectively, with a first-quarter put-back off of an offensive rebound the bucket which gave her the second mark.

On the season, she’s Whitman’s second-leading scorer and top rebounder (160), while also having compiled 43 assists, four blocks and 16 steals.

Stone is shooting 55% from the floor (130 of 236) and 78% from the line (46-59).