WALLA WALLA, Wash. – The Whitman College women’s basketball team put together one of its most complete efforts of the season Friday night, rolling past Pacific Lutheran 89-50 in Northwest Conference play at the Sherwood Center.
The Blues (10-6, 5-2 NWC) set the tone from the opening tip, racing out to a 26-13 lead after the first quarter and never looked back. Whitman’s defense forced 25 turnovers and turned them into 32 points on the other end, fueling a transition attack that kept the Lutes (1-15, 0-7 NWC) on their heels all night.
Sophomore post Emma Lena Baker powered Whitman with game highs of 18 points and 10 rebounds, going 8-for-15 from the field while controlling the glass on both ends. She scored 12 of her points in the first half as the Blues built a 51-29 advantage at the break and stretched the margin to 70-39 after three quarters.
Whitman’s balance was just as important as Baker’s double-double. Morgan Montgomery poured in 17 points on 7-of-9 shooting, including a pair of threes, while Holly Morgan added 13 points and a team-high three steals off the bench to help Whitman’s reserves outscore PLU’s bench 24-12.
Kaella Peters chipped in 14 points, knocking down four triples as the Blues finished 9-for-17 (52.9 percent) from beyond the arc.
The Blues also dominated the paint, outscoring Pacific Lutheran 48-24 inside and holding a 33-22 edge on the boards. Whitman shot 56.9 percent from the floor overall and assisted on 17 of its 37 made field goals, showcasing crisp ball movement and unselfish play.
Emi Wada led Pacific Lutheran with 14 points, while Sydney Reisner finished with 11.
The Blues get back at it on Saturday at 3:00 p.m. with a NWC contest against Puget Sound.
#GoWhitman