SPOKANE, Wash. The sample size is small, but the early-season impact of Whitman's first-year guards has been massive.

Kaelan Shamseldin scored a career-high 23 points and Taylor Chambers had five assists against just two turnovers as a pair of Blues playing just their third college games loomed large in Whitman's 64-52 victory over Whittier on Day 2 of the Ramada at Spokane Airport Whit Classic on Saturday afternoon at the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

Shamseldin made six 3-pointers in posting the Blues' most prolific single-game point total of the young season. She had seven points during an 11-2 Whitman run that put the game away late in the fourth quarter. Her 3-pointer with 50 seconds left -- assisted by Chambers -- capped the surge and gave the Blues (2-1) a 63-50 lead.

Chambers also had six points, three rebounds and made 2 of 4 3-pointers in 23 minutes running the point for Whitman, which will regain the services of senior preseason all-American Casey Poe in its next contest, after the starting point guard missed the first three games pursuing an academic project. The Blues have also been without injured sophomore guards Mady Burdett and Natalie Whitesel.

"We're missing a lot of backcourt experience, and that put a lot of pressure on young kids to step up," Whitman head coach Michelle Ferenz said. "This was big for us and for our conference. It wasn't pretty, but we got it done."

Whittier (0-2) and Friday's opponent, La Verne, are Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference -- and West Region -- foes. In addition to defending Northwest Conference honor, Whitman's victories could have national tournament implications down the road

Whitman's precocious first-years complemented sophomore Makana Stone's second double-double in as many nights on Saturday. Despite first-half foul trouble, Stone had 18 points and 11 rebounds. She made 10 of 13 at the free throw line, blocked one shot and had one steal.

Stone had 20 points and 10 rebounds on Friday in a victory over La Verne.

Whittier ate into what had become a double-digit lead for Whitman by scoring the last five points of the third quarter. The Blues led 47-40 entering the fourth but saw their lead dip to four at the 5:50 mark and again with 5:01 remaining, before Stone and Shamseldin conspired to nail the door shut.

The Blues bolted ahead 15-2 with a near-perfect start that showcased an offense at its balanced optimum. Shamseldin made 3 of 4 3-pointers during the first-quarter spurt, and Stone and Emily Rommel had baskets down low as the Poets' defense stretched to cover the perimeter.

But Whitman could not sustain what was a 120-point regulation pace. The Blues went cold down the first-quarter stretch, failing to convert a field goal over the final 4:23.

A Chambers 3-pointer two minutes into the second quarter ended that drought and restored some coherence to the Whitman offense. Shamseldin hit her fourth 3-pointer of the half, Rommel scored twice inside, and Maegen Martin found room in the lane for a bucket as the Blues eased to a 29-21 lead with 3:27 until halftime.

Martin's basket was the Blues' last of the half. Whittier ducked into recess on a 6-1 run, leaving Whitman clinging to a tenuous 30-27 advantage. A decision to shoot with 18 seconds remaining -- and the shot clock off -- stung the Blues: The Poets pushed down floor and freed Kellie Ogata for a jumper as time expired.

Whitman clearly missed Stone, who picked up her second personal foul and spent the final seven minutes of the first half on the bench. She had six points and five rebounds in just 10 first-half minutes.

Stone scored five of Whitman's last 12 points in the game.

Rommel (five rebounds) and Martin (three rebounds) had seven points apiece for the winners, and Sierra McGarity helped ease the backcourt's burden with five assists. Lily Gustafson snagged six rebounds in 16 eventful minutes off the bench.

"This weekend was a growing-up process," said Ferenz. "Kaelan got better as the weekend went on. She had a lot of open looks tonight and she knocked a good portion of them down. Emily and Sierra were both incredibly solid in executing, in rebounding in defending. Sierra ended up chasing (the opponent's) best scorer on both nights.

"Taylor did a great job of running things and taking care of the ball," she added. "She's a really smart point guard. She loves the game and thinks the game.

"I'm proud of the way we worked through things."

Stone's weekend -- the pair of double-doubles, and a total of 38 points with 21 rebounds -- earned her a place on the Ramada at the Spokane Airport Whit Classic All-Tournament Team, as announced by host Whitworth after Saturday's game were complete.

Whitman hosts Walla Walla University at 2 p.m. on Friday in the opening round of the Kim Evanger Raney Classic.