WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- With Michelle Krall scoring all 19 of her points in the second half, Whitman College dominated nationally ranked Washington University en route to a 72-60 victory Saturday afternoon at the NBC Camps Whit Classic in Spokane, Wash.

Michelle Krall

Improving to 6-0 on the season, Whitman raced to an early 13-1 lead and extended its advantage to as many as 15 points in the first half. The Missionaries quickly buried the Bears in the second half, inflating their cushion to 22 points on two occasions before the gap narrowed in the closing minutes.

Washington (St. Louis, Mo.), ranked No. 9 in NCAA Div. III heading into the weekend, wasted double-digit leads Friday night in losing 73-68 to Whitworth University. The back-to-back losses leave the Bears with a 4-3 record.

The victory gives Whitman a 6-0 start to its season for only the second time in school history.  The Missionaries also won their first six games to start the 1991-92 season.

With Whitman ahead 35-27 early in the second half, Krall went ballistic at the offensive end, scoring 17 of the next 21 Missionary points over a span of six-plus minutes. Her outburst included five 3-pointers, the last of which produced a 56-34 lead with 9:39 left to play.

Jenele Peterson

Krall also grabbed a team-high seven boards as the Missionaries outrebounded Washington 45-43.

Jenele Peterson, Whitman's sophomore point guard, added 16 points, five rebounds and three assists. Junior Hilary White scored all 10 of her points in the first half, which ended with Whitman on top 28-19. 

Sophomore Anna Forge came off the bench to add seven points and six rebounds. Junior Ellen Vertatschitsch, a starter and defensive specialist, hit two of three 3-point tries for six points. Sophomore center Rebecca Sexton collected six rebounds and also scored six points, making three of five shots from the floor.

As a team, Whitman nailed 12 of 26 shots from the 3-point line. While Krall was five of nine from long distance, White and Peterson drilled two long balls apiece. Sophomore Jessica Brice was good on her only 3-point attempt.

Krall, who had a team-high 18 points in Whitman's Friday victory over California Lutheran, was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Peterson, who had 12 points and four steals against Cal Lutheran, also was named to the all-tournament team.  

Whitman wraps up its non-conference slate with three games next week. The Missionaries host Walla Walla University at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, travel to Eastern Oregon on Friday (5:30 p.m.), and then welcome College of Idaho to Sherwood Center at 6 p.m. Saturday.

Box Score

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