No. 21 Women's Basketball Wins Thriller Over Carroll (Mont.)

SPOKANE, Wash. - Mady Burdett poured in a game-high 24 points, Makana Stone posted a double double with 14 points and a game-high 10 rebounds and the No. 21 Whitman College women's basketball team remained perfect on the season with a 74-72 nail biting win over Carroll (Mont.), Saturday in the team's finale of the Whit Classic.

Burdett carried the load for the Blues in every way, shooting 8-15 from the floor and connecting on five of nine three point attempts. She also pulled down four rebounds and dished out four assists. The Blues won despite shooting 63% from the foul line but made up for it with a slightly better shooting percentage than Carroll.

Sienna Swannack led the Saints with 20 points and Christine Denny added 11 points and nine rebounds.

The game was nip and tuck all the way with neither team able to get any separation from the other. Burdett's first quarter three pointer put the Blues (2-0) up 13-8 but Emerald Toth's layup quickly evened the game. 

Whitman led for most of the second quarter, even pushing the advantage to eight points after a Natalie Whitesel layup with 2:51 to play. Carroll came storming back though, closing the half on a 9-1 run to make it a 38-38 score heading to the break.

It were the Fighting Saints that held the lead for most of the third quarter. Swannack's layup in transition put her team up 50-46 at the midway point of the quarter but after Burdett and Kaelan Shamseldin both hit from three the game was tied again.

Defense was on display in the fourth period but several key shots down the stretch gave the Blues the win. Back-to-back clutch Shaira Young three-pointers put Whitman up 67-63 with 6:40 to play. Carroll tied the game inside of five minutes but Burdett nailed a three-pointer to put Whitman up 73-70, then drained another tie (and back) breaking three ball with 1:55 left on the clock.

The Blues are next in action when they visit Walla Walla University on Wednesday, Nov. 20. Tipoff is set for 7:00 p.m.