Makana Stone, seen here in action last season, went for 20 points and 10 rebounds Friday as Whitman rolled to a win. (Photo by JohnsPhotos.net)
There were Leopards in the gym Friday, but only one true beast on the court.
Playing with wild abandon, Coupeville grad Makana Stone had the most dominant game of her already-stellar college basketball career, throwing down 20 points and snatching 10 rebounds to spark Whitman College to a 93-75 win over the University of La Verne.
The victory, coming in the opening round of the Ramada at Spokane Airport Whit Classic, evens Whitman’s early-season record at 1-1.
The Blues spring right back into action Saturday, when they play Whittier College to close out the tourney.
Stone, who was a starter as a freshman on a Whitman team which went to the Elite Eight of the NCAA D-III hoops tourney, scorched the nets Friday at a rate not previously seen.
At least at the college level.
Her 20 points, which came on almost-perfect shooting (she finished 6-8 from the floor and 8-8 at the free-throw line), was the most she’s scored as a college player.
Stone’s previous college high was 16 against the University of Puget Sound last season.
After warming up with a four-point, six-rebound first quarter, helping the Blues take a 22-18 lead they would never relinquish, the superb sophomore went off in the third quarter.
Pouring in 10 of her 20 coming out of the halftime break, she accounted for almost a third of Whitman’s 32 third-quarter points.
Stone’s 10 rebounds were just a single carom shy of her college best, as well. She hauled in 11 in a game several times as a freshman.
Whitman, which was without preseason All-American Casey Poe for the second straight game, used its inside strength to annihilate the Leopards of La Verne.
The Blues outrebounded their foes 57-20, with Emily Rommel pulling down 16 to go with her team-high 22 points.
La Verne was led by Clarissa Perez, who netted 29, but needed a ton of shots (12-25 from the floor, 1-6 at the line) to get there.
Coupeville Sports 