WALLA WALLA, Wash. – On a night that it seemed Whitman College was going to let one slip away; the Whitties used a stellar third quarter performance to topple Northwest Conference opponent Lewis and Clark College, 61-60 at the Sherwood Center. Hailey McDonald converted one of two free throws with less than ten seconds to go, securing the victory for Whitman.
 
Sophomore, Casey Poe and senior, McDonald combined for 37 points on 14-29 shooting, while Poe also added six rebounds and an assist. Whitman's (6-0, 2-0 NWC) Alysse Ketner was unable to get much going offensively, but found ways to make up for, grabbing ten rebounds, six of which came on the offensive end. After trailing by 16 at one point, the Whitties came out firing in the second half to climb back into the game.
 
"First of all you have to give credit to Lewis and Clark (0-8, 0-2) because they came out really ready to play and we weren't," Head Coach Michelle Ferenz said. "Letting our guards create some chaos gave us some opportunities to get going. If we let Lewis and Clark dictate the pace of the game, we were in trouble."
 
Shots starting falling for Whitman to begin the second quarter, but the Pios stayed hot building an eight-point lead three minutes in. The Lewis and Clark lead reached 16 with just over two minutes to play in the half and the Whitties seemed completely shell shocked trailing 38-24 at the break.
 
Whitman started the second half pressing the Pios, forcing three turnovers and cutting the deficit to a single possession, 40-38. Poe and McDonald led the charge for the Whitties scoring 14 points and forcing 5 turnovers during that stretch. After Whitman tied the game, Lewis and Clark connected on a three-point shot that gave them the lead, but guard, Chelsi Brewer answered 15 seconds later with a three that found nothing but net.
 
Poe said she looked to be aggressive tonight, "I just look to attack and get to anyone if they are open. If no one is open I continue to attack. That is just my mindset."  She also attributed a lot of her success to her teammates, specifically McDonald, "I was able to use her energy and intensity to get me going, so I was thankful for her tonight."
 
Hailey Ann Maeda's jumper with just over 2:30 to play in the third gave the Whitties their first lead of the game and Sierra McGarity's jumper at the buzzer gave the Whitties their largest lead as the Pios came off the court looking spent.
 
With back-to-back buckets to start the fourth quarter, Lewis and Clark cut the Whitman lead to one with eight minutes to play. The Pios got an and-one basket with four minutes to play, but missed the game-tying free throw as Whitman held a one-point edge coming down the stretch.
 
The Whitties' lead teetered from one to three for the next few minutes until Lewis and Clark hit a game-tying three with 56 seconds to play. Whitman grabbed a crucial offensive rebound and was able to get to the free throw line where McDonald converted one of two free throws. The Pios final shot fell off the rim completing Whitman's come-from-behind victory.
 
Whitman is at home again next weekend for games Friday and Saturday at 6:00 p.m. PST.