SPOKANE, Wash.  A six-point halftime lead more than doubled, to 13, in the third quarter Friday night in Whitman's 93-75 victory over University of La Verne. The non-conference women's basketball match-up was the opener of the 2017 Ramada at Spokane Airport Whit Classic, hosted by Whitworth University on its Fieldhouse court.

The victory evens No. 6 Whitman's record to 1-1 while the Leopards fall to 0-1 to start their season.

Emily Rommel's single-game career highs in points, 22, and rebounds, 16, led the way for the Blues, while Makana Stone's 10-point, two-rebound third quarter paced Whitman in a 10-minute span during which they nearly scored as many points as they had entering the halftime break.

La Verne played fast from the start, eschewing the pass in favor of breakneck drives down court and pull-up jumpers. The Leopards also worked the press to a degree of effectiveness, forcing Whitman into 21 turnovers in the opening half.

Nonetheless, the Blues had scratched out a four-point advantage at the end of the first, then headed into the intermission leading 39-33.

Kaelan Shamseldin got Whitman rolling in the third quarter, opening the Blues' scoring with a long-range bomb. Lily Gustafson sandwiched a jumper and layup around a Shamseldin layin to pour fuel on the fire, and Stone took over the second half of the quarter in dropping in a 10-spot to go along with hard work on the glass.

By the time the quarter ended the Blues had poured in 32 points to forge that 13-point cushion.

Whitman's work in the offensive end continued over the final 10 minutes as it stretched its advantage to as many as 20 before settling for the 18-point victory.

Spirited by Rommel's dominant performance on the boards, Whitman finished the night with a resounding 65-30 lead in rebounding. Stone's 10, to go along with a career-best 20 points, added another double-double to the Blues' night.

Shamseldin also reached double-figures with 10 points.

The turnover bug that had plagued the Blues in the first 20 minutes subsided over the final 20, dropping from 21 to just 12, further limiting La Verne's chances at a comeback.

The Blues continue action in the Classic on Saturday afternoon with a non-conference game against Whittier (Calif.) College at 2 p.m.