Makana Stone lines up a shot. (Photo property Marianne Maja Stenerud)
It was a split decision.
Back on the hardwood for the first time in two weeks, Coupeville grad Makana Stone was on fire Wednesday, filling up the stat sheet.
Unfortunately, the one-woman wrecking crew couldn’t carry her Norwegian pro hoops team to a victory all by herself.
Stone recorded her seventh double-double of the season, topping all players with 21 points and 19 rebounds, but Asker held off Baerum 78-53.
The loss tightens up the race for second place in the seven-team Kvinneligaen, with everyone chasing undefeated Ulriken, which sits at 12-0.
Baerum and Stone drop to 8-3 and retain a half-game lead over Asker (8-4), with Storm Ungdom (0-11) next up for the former Wolf ace and her teammates.
That game isn’t until Jan. 14, though, as the holiday season continues to feature big breaks.
Stone and her associates have 13 games remaining on a 24-game regular season schedule which runs through late March.
Wednesday’s tilt was the first time Baerum had seen action since Dec. 20, and the game slipped away after a tense first quarter.
Up just 14-13 at the first break, Asker used an 18-6 run in the second frame to open things up, before closing with 22-18 and 24-16 tears across the final two quarters of action.
Stone, who has topped double digit scoring in all 11 of her games in Norway, added five assists, four steals, and two blocked shots.
On the season, she has 210 points, 133 rebounds, 23 assists, 33 steals, and eight blocks.
Stone is in her second season of cashin’ checks for drainin’ jumpers, having played for Leicester in England as a rookie.
Coupeville Sports 