Coupeville Sports

Makana Stone, defensive dynamo. (Photo property Marianne Maja Stenerud)

She went down swinging, and shooting.

Coupeville grad Makana Stone singed the nets for 29 points Sunday in Norway, filling up the stat sheet as she and Baerum pushed undefeated Ulriken hard before falling 70-61.

The loss drops Baerum to 10-5, while Ulriken remains spotless at 14-0.

It wasn’t just points for Stone, as she also snagged 15 rebounds, pilfered five steals, and doled out three assists.

The former Wolf ace topped everyone on the floor in rebounds and steals, while her 29 points was one off the game-high 30 put up by Ulriken’s Stine Austgulen.

The undefeated league leaders opened the game with a 19-12 lead after one quarter, before Baerum trimmed things down to 35-29 at the half.

The third quarter proved deadly, however, as Ulriken went on a 19-8 surge, before Stone and Co. closed the game with a 24-16 tear in the fourth quarter.

Through 15 games in the Kvinneligaen, Coupeville’s progeny has racked up 287 points, 184 rebounds, 32 assists, 42 steals, and 10 blocks.

After two games in as many days this weekend, Stone and her Norwegian compatriots now have a two-week break, not returning to action until Sunday, Feb. 5 when they play Storm Ungdom.

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“Bring it.” “Oh, it’s already brought.” (Photo property Marianne Maja Stenerud)

Any day, any team.

Saturday was a day for upsets in the world of Norwegian pro women’s basketball, as Bergen roared out to a big first-half lead, then held on for dear life to upend Baerum 48-46.

The loss, which came despite another rock-solid performance from Coupeville grad Makana Stone, drops her squad to 10-4 on the season.

Bergen, which lost to Baerum by 32 points just a week ago, is now 3-11.

The difference was the second quarter, as Bergen used a 17-6 tear to push its lead out to 34-20 at the halftime break.

Stone and Co. sliced the lead down, pulling within 39-34 after three quarters, and tying the game up in the fourth.

But this was Bergen’s day, as it hit big shots in the final moments to pull back in front and fend off Baerum.

Stone finished with eight points, a game-high 16 rebounds, three assists, and three steals, while teammate Abbey Hoff led all scorers with 16 points.

The former Wolf ace has racked up 258 points, 169 rebounds, 29 assists, 37 steals, and 10 blocks during her second season of pro ball.

Baerum gets an immediate chance to bounce back, playing Sunday against league-leader Ulriken, which sits atop the seven-team Kvinneligaen at 13-0.

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Makana Stone snags a rebound in Norway. (Photo property Marianne Maja Stenerud)

Seems like she’s pretty good at this whole basketball thing.

Coupeville grad Makana Stone capped a torrid weekend by throwing down yet another double-double Sunday, sparking her Norwegian pro hoops team to its second win in as many days.

Leading from start to finish Baerum bounced Bergen 77-45 to run its record to 10-3 on the season.

Stone and Co. sit in second place in the seven-team Kvinneligaen, trailing Ulriken (13-0) and a half-game up on Asker (10-4).

They’ll get back at it next weekend, with a back-to-back Saturday and Sunday, starting with a rematch against Bergen and finishing with a high-stakes showdown with Ulriken.

Sunday’s rumble was dominated by Baerum’s American ballers, with Stone recording 19 points, 11 rebounds, three assists, and two blocked shots, while Abbey Hoff had 21 points and eight boards.

Julie McCarthy chipped with 10 points to put three players in double-digit scoring.

Baerum came out on fire and never really cooled down.

A 25-15 lead after one quarter of play turned into a 51-30 lead by the half, then a 67-34 advantage heading into the night’s final frame.

Stone, who is in her second season of cashing checks for playing basketball after a year in England, has collected 250 points, 153 rebounds, 26 assists, 34 steals, and 10 blocked shots during her time in Norway.

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Makana Stone looks for an opening in the defense. (Photo property Marianne Maja Stenerud)

Right back on track.

Coupeville grad Makana Stone topped the 20-point barrier for the third straight game, helping her Norwegian pro hoops team bounce back from a rare loss.

With the former Wolf tossing in a game-high 21 points and snagging nine rebounds Saturday, Baerum held off scrappy cellar dweller Storm Ungdom 64-50 in the team’s first action in 10 days.

With the win, Stone and Co. get to 9-3 on the season, moving back into sole possession of second place in the seven-team Kvinneligaen.

Baerum, which trails only undefeated Ulriken (13-0), is a half-game up on Asker (9-4), and plays again Sunday, with a rumble against Bergen (2-9) on the schedule.

Saturday’s game was a close one, with Stone and her associates clinging to a 12-11 lead after one quarter of play, and a 23-22 advantage at the half.

The third quarter proved to be decisive, with Baerum using a 20-11 surge to get its lead up to double digits.

The Norwegians were paced by their American assassins, as Abbey Hoff knocked down 17 points and snagged seven boards in support of Stone.

On the season, the former Coupeville ace has collected 231 points, 142 rebounds, 23 assists, 34 steals, and eight blocked shots.

Stone, who was a standout at both Whitman College in Walla Walla and Loughborough University in England, is in her second season as a professional basketball player.

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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.

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