SPOKANE, Wash.  A 10-0 run to start the game launched fifth-ranked Whitman to an 83-49 win Tuesday night against host Whitworth University in Northwest Conference women's basketball action at the Whitworth Fieldhouse.

The Blues (21-1, 12-0 NWC) finished the opening quarter with a 16-9 lead then never allowed the Pirates (9-13, 4-9) to close that seven-point gap, eventually extending the advantage to double-digits, 37-27, at the halftime break.

The game broke open in the third quarter, a 10-minute period during which Whitman out scored their hosts 32-14 before finishing with a more pedestrian 14-8 final stanza.

All game long Whitworth had trouble handling the inside game of the Blues as the Pirates surrendered 48 points in the paint and were out rebounded 46-29, including 24-9 in the second half.

Another thorn in the side of the Pirates was the Blues' Casey Poe. Her 23 points led all scorers, but it was her proficiency that was noteworthy -- 11-for-14 from the floor.

The 10-point spurt that began the game was a clinic in passing and set plays. Tic-tac-toe distribution was providing open looks for jumpers and layups, and twice Poe dropped in short jumpers directly off inbounds passes.

The streak was interrupted by Whitworth's Camy Aguinaldo, who drained a 3-pointer from the top-right of the arc to finally get the home team on the board.

Aguinaldo was, in fact, the Pirates' only offense until early in the second quarter, scoring the first 14 points to prevent her team from falling fatally behind before recess.

Whitman just came with too much, though.

Of the 83 points for the Blues, 32 came from players coming off the bench. Maegen Martin led the group with 13, while Taylor Chambers added nine.

The starting five set the tone, however.

Poe's hot night added to Makana Stone's double-double, 10 points and 14 rebounds, and Emily Rommel's near double-double (9 and 9).

In all, 10 different players notched at least one basket on a night that Whitman lived up to its top-five ranking, controlling the game from tip to buzzer.

Up next is a top-25 battle Saturday afternoon in Newberg, Oregon, where the Blues will take on conference foe, host and 21st-ranked George Fox University.