Coupeville Sports

Eileen (left) and Makana Stone celebrate after a win last season. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)

One game closer to a league title.

Coupeville grad Makana Stone and the Whitman College women’s basketball team kicked off their league schedule Friday with a fairly one-sided win.

Playing on their home court in Walla Walla, the Blues led from start to finish against visiting Pacific University, finishing on the happy side of an 84-69 score.

The victory, its fourth in its last five games, lifts Whitman to 1-0 in Northwest Conference play, 4-2 overall.

The Blues return to the court Saturday, when Willamette arrives in town for another league clash.

Stone, who entered play Friday as Whitman’s #1 scorer and rebounder, got off to a quick start, picking up an assist on the very first bucket of the night.

She dished the ball to teammate Maegen Martin, who knocked down a layup (and an ensuing free throw) and the Blues had a lead they would never relinquish.

Whitman finished the first quarter up by 10, let Pacific creep back into the game, then slammed the door shut.

The lead slipped all the way down to 47-45 midway through the third, before the Blues finished the quarter on a game-busting 17-4 run.

Whitman got big games from Kaylie McCracken, who singed the nets for 24 points, and Mady Burdett, who popped for 20.

That helped make up for the loss in offense when Stone and three-point bomber Kaelan Shamseldin found themselves locked to the bench for extended periods of time in the second half while battling foul trouble.

Stone’s 18 minutes of floor time were her fewest of the season, but she used her time well, netting eight points, snaring six rebounds, making off with two steals and dishing an assist.

For the season, she sits with 97 points, 48 rebounds, eight assists, 10 steals and eight blocks, while shooting 41-76 from the floor and 15-20 at the free-throw line.