Lady Knights Win Twice in Walla Walla
BOX SCORE
WALLA WALLA, Wash. - Warner Pacific held off Whitman College 72-61 in a non-conference women's basketball game Saturday afternoon in Walla Walla at the Sherwood Center.
Coupled with a 76-39 win over Walla Walla University yesterday, Warner Pacific improved to 6-5 on the season, while Whitman slipped to 3-6.
Chelsey Christensen had a game-high 20 points to lead four Warner Pacific players into double digits. Christensen also had six rebounds and four assists. Morgan Wolff came off the bench to score 15 points and grab six rebounds. Cameryn Calhoun gave the visitors 13 points, seven assists and six boards, while Kelsey Mattsen was good for 13 points and five rebounds.
Juniors Kelly Peterson and Mary Madden both made six of 10 shots from the floor and finished with 13 points apiece to pace Whitman's attack. Senior Jenele Peterson chipped in with 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Sophomore Sarah Anderegg added eight points and five boards.
The Knights led 33-27 at halftime, shot 49 percent from the floor and out-rebounded Whitman 45-31. The Missionaries won the ball-control battle, collecting 12 steals while forcing Warner Pacific into 19 turnovers.
Whitman's Madden Madden scored five points as Whitman jumped in front 7-4 to start the game, but Christensen and Wolff hit a pair of free throws to fuel a 12-0 Warner Pacific run. After baskets by Anderegg and Kelly Peterson helped Whitman close to within five points with 11 minutes left in the half, the Knights stretched their lead back into double digits at 30-19 with three minutes remaining. Jenele Peterson's layup and a jumper by senior Anna Forge trimmed Whitman's deficit to 33-27 the break.
The Knights upped their lead to 13 points early in the second half, but the Missionaries stayed within reach for most of the half. Whitman trailed by just eight points, 52-44, after Traver made two free throws with 8:02 left to play. Warner Pacific countered with four straight points and maintained a double-figure bulge the rest of the way.