PORTLAND, Ore.  Host Warner Pacific College hoped to deal unbeaten and 25th-ranked Whitman College its first loss of the season Wednesday night at Bart Valentine Court. Those hopes died over a brief 3 minute stretch midway through the opening quarter as the visiting Blues broke away from an early tie with a 14-0 run and eventually rolled to a 78-44 non-conference win over the Knights.

Whitman improves to 5-0 on the season while Warner Pacific, an NAIA institution, slips to 2-4.

The Knights tied the game at 6-6 behind a Darbi Pink 3-pointer at the 5:52 mark of the first quarter, but that would be the last time the outcome could be questioned.

Alysse Ketner catalyzed the change in fortune of the contest, starting with a pair of free throws to put Whitman back in front. She thwarted the Knights' ensuing possession with a steal and layup to increase the lead, then followed with another steal that ended with a 3-pointer from Mady Burdett.

A Warner Pacific miss and defensive rebound by Makana Stone transitioned into a Stone miss at the other end, but Ketner -- who else? -- was there to pull down the offensive rebound and net the put-back.

A Stone steal in the defensive end turned into a Maegen Martin jumper, followed by a Martin defensive rebound and another trey from Burdett which but the capper on the 14-0 run over a span of 3 minutes, 16 seconds.

At quarter's end the Blues owned an 18-point lead then played even with the Knights over the second 10-minute frame to enter the halftime break with a 39-21 advantage.

The third and fourth quarters bore more of a resemblance to the opening stanza as Whitman out scored the Knights 39-23 in the final 20 minutes to close out the victory.

Whitman's swarming defense forced 21 Warner Pacific turnovers which resulted in 23 points for the Blues. Rebounding, not only in the defensive end but also off their own shots, also played a role in the rout as Whitman ruled the glass with a 53-32 advantage including 19 offensive boards resulting in 19 second-chance points.

Ketner led all scorers with 14 points but she also added game-highs in assist and steals with seven apiece, while contributing seven rebounds to Whitman's dominance on the glass.

That domination was led by Emily Rommel whose 10 boards were a game-best. She just missed the double-double, scoring nine points, as did Lily Gustafson.

Burdett rang up a trio of 3-pointers and finished the night with 10 points, one ahead of Chelsi Brewer's nine points.

Whitman has a short break over the holiday before opening its Northwest Conference schedule on Friday, Dec. 2 at Willamette University.