White, Rookies Power Women Past PLU

News Release Date:
Friday, February 12

WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Big nights by senior Hilary White and two of her first-year teammates sparked Whitman College to a 72-53 Northwest Conference victory over Pacific Lutheran Friday night in Sherwood Center.

Hilary White

White, who had 17 of her 24 points in the first half, also grabbed nine rebounds and handed out four assists.

Whitman, winning for the fifth time in six games, improved to 6-7 in the NWC and 11-11 on the season. Pacific Lutheran slipped to 5-8 and 7-15.

Kelly Peterson

First-year Missionaries Kelly Peterson and Mary Madden, high school teammates from Huntington Beach, Calif., added 16 and 13 points, respectively.

Whitman also got nine points, five rebounds and two blocked shots from junior Rebecca Sexton and seven rebounds and five assists from senior Michelle Krall.

Up by 14 points at halftime, Whitman steadily pulled away in the second half, stretching its lead to 62-38 with just under eight minutes left to play. The Lutes made a final push, cutting its deficit to 64-52 with 3:14 remaining.

But Emilie Gilbert, another of Whitman's first-year players, answered with a 3-pointer, and White followed with her fourth trey of the night to nail down the Whitman victory.

Mary Madden

Melissa Pixler paced the Lutes with 16 points and Mandy Wall came off the bench for 10 points and four steals. 

Whitman shot 56.7 percent from the floor in the first half and finished at 49.1 percent for the game. The Missionaries outrebounded Pacific Lutheran by a 41-27 margin.

In the first half, Whitman raced away to early leads of 8-0, 11-2 and 17-8 over the first six minutes. After the Lutes rallied to within a point at 24-23, the Missionaries got hot again, outscoring Pacific Lutheran 18-5 over the last six minutes of half.

White triggered the closing run, which produced a 42-28 halftime lead, by hitting two 3-pointers and twice scoring courtesy of offensive rebound putbacks.

Whitman stays at home Saturday to host Puget Sound. The game starts at 8 p.m. in Sherwood Center.

Pacific Lutheran travels to Spokane Saturday to face Whitworth. That game also starts at 8 p.m.

Box Score

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CONTACT: Dave Holden
Sports Information Director
Whitman College, Walla Walla, Wash.
509 527-5902; holden@whitman.edu