FOREST GROVE, Ore.  It took a quarter, but eventually the 18th-ranked Blues from Whitman College were able to dust off the challenges from host Pacific (Ore.) University Friday evening at the Stoller Center, taking a 76-63 Northwest Conference victory over the Boxers behind a 19-point night from Casey Poe.

Whitman (18-2, 9-2 NWC) and Pacific (5-15, 3-8) traded the lead five times in the first quarter, with the Boxers adding a sixth exchange with the first points of the second quarter.

A jumper by Makana Stone at the 8:59 mark of the second provided the seventh, and last, lead change, pushing the Blues in front 14-13 and into an advantage that would blossom into double-digits for most of the remainder of the contest.

Late in the quarter Whitman owned a 15-point edge then settled for a 10-point margin, 36-36, at the half following a late flurry from the Boxers.

Twice more -- at 40-33 in the third, and at 67-58 in the fourth quarter -- Pacific would seemingly threaten Whitman's stranglehold on the scoreboard, and both times the Whits would find an answer to deaden the Boxer's enthusiasm before cruising to a 13-point win that completes a sweep of Pacific for the season.

Neither team owned an advantage on the glass, each coming down with 36 rebounds, but Whitman's solid night from the floor and its ability to turn Pacific miscues into points -- including 30 from in close in the paint -- made the difference in the road victory.

The Blues hit for 47 percent while their hounding defense made things difficult for the Boxers, who ended the loss hitting only 32 percent from the floor. And Whitman flipped 21 Pacific turnovers into 23 points to further the divide between the teams.

Poe's season-best 19-point effort included a 4-for-4 evening from beyond the arc, also a season high. She wasn't alone in finding the bottom of the basket for Whitman as three others cashed in for double-figures.

Emily Rommel's 12 points went along with a game-high 10 rebounds for her fourth double-double of the season, and Chelsi Brewer (14 points) and Maegen Martin (13) also registered double figures.

Pacific was led by 22 points from Karli McHone and 17 from Sarah Curl, but the Boxers were only able to net 13 points from their non-starters, adding pressure to McHone and Curl.

The Whitman weekend continues Saturday at Linfield College with a 4 p.m. contest. In early January the Blues trounced the visiting Wildcats, 74-37, in Walla Walla.