WALLA WALLA, Wash. – Hailey McDonald's three-pointer opened the scoring and six minutes later Whitman College owned a 15-point lead over visiting Walla Walla University Saturday evening at the Sherwood Athletics Center. The game-opening 15-0 run eventually turned into a 67-34 non-conference women's basketball victory for the Missionaries on the opening day of the 8th Annual Kim Evanger Raney Classic.

Twelve different players -- each notching at least three points --,scored for Whitman (5-3) which was led by Heather Lovelace's 10 points. Walla Walla was paced by Michaela Garcia's 15 points.

The Wolves responded to Whitman's opening streak by scoring the next seven points to pull within eight, but Kendra Winchester's rebound and layup halted WWU's momentum while pushing the Missionaries past the narrowest margin the Wolves would muster over the remainder of the contest.

Neither team shot particularly well from the floor during the opening 20 minutes -- both teams sinking just 26 percent of their shots -- but Whitman managed to take a 25-17 advantage into the break.

The second half was much closer to what is expected of the Missionaries attack as it reeled off 40 points while allowing just 19 more from the visitors.

Lauren Pernu sank only the second of two free throws early in second-half action to trim the Whitman lead to 31-18 but a string of 10 unanswered points by the Missionaries set the tone for the rest of the half. Heather Johns, scoreless in the first half, got on track during that streak scoring the last six of the 10 points that upped Whitman's lead to 23 before five minutes had expired.

Head coach Michelle Ferenz went to her bench early in the game, and continued that trend throughout the contest. By game's end the substitutes ended up out scoring the starting five by a 38-29 margin as 11 different players would finish with at least 10 minutes of playing time.

It didn't matter who was on the court for Ferenz and the Missionaries as they piled up rebound after rebound -- for a 48-32 advantage -- and forced 25 WWU turnovers which evolved into 31 points.

Johns, with nine points, was behind only Lovelace in the Whitman scoring department. On the glass the Missionaries were led by Hailey Ann Maeda's nine rebounds. Pernu's game-high 13 boards led Walla Walla in its losing efforts.

The KER Classic continues Sunday with noon and 2 p.m. games. Walla Walla will square off against Whitworth University in the early game with Whitman taking on Corban (Ore.) University in the later game. Whitworth downed Corban 82-65 in the Classic's opening game Saturday afternoon.