Makana Stone hangs out with her grandparents before one of her college games. (Eileen Stone photo)
The stage is set for the biggest game of the season.
Having emphatically stepped on visiting Pacific Lutheran University Friday night, the undefeated Whitman College women’s basketball team is ready for Showdown Saturday.
The Blues, who got five points and a team-high six rebounds from Coupeville grad Makana Stone, romped to an 88-41 victory over PLU.
The victory lifts Whitman to 14-0 overall, 5-0 in Northwest Conference play heading into a home game against the University of Puget Sound, which sits at 13-1, 5-0.
Tip-off is 4 PM Saturday in Walla Walla.
In preparation for the first-place battle, Whitman gave its starters plenty of breathers against PLU, which now sits at 1-13 after the loss.
The Blues played 14 players, with 12 of them pulling in between 11-19 minutes.
Stone, who hit the floor in the first quarter and made an immediate impact, played 15 minutes in the win.
She hit a jumper in the paint, picked up an assist when her dish set up a three-point bomb by teammate Casey Poe, and also hauled in the first of her rebounds.
After picking up three more boards over the second and third quarter, Stone capped her night with another jumper, a free throw and two rebounds in the fourth quarter.
Mady Burdett paced Whitman with 14, while Poe tickled the twines for 13 and Maegen Martin netted 10.
Stone has played 226 minutes during her freshman campaign, seventh-best on the Blues squad, and is averaging 5.1 points and 4.7 rebounds a night.
Her 66 boards are third-best for Whitman, and she also has 10 steals, nine assists and three blocks.
Coupeville Sports 