Jan. 12 NWC Women’s Basketball Wrap (Stories provided by host SID)

At Whitman 76, Lewis & Clark 56

Walla Walla, Wash. - Whitman College finished up their conference opening weekend with a win against visiting Lewis and Clark College Monday. Whitman used a 42 point first half and a double-double from freshman forward Sarah Laird en-rout to a 76-56 victory. Whitman improved its record to 7-3 overall (2-0 NWC), while Lewis and Clark fell to 3-8 overall (0-2 NWC). This was a make up game for the game that was originally scheduled to be played Saturday, but delayed due to the winter storm that hit the northwest this past week.

In the first half the lady Missionaries used a 15 point first half from sophomore guard Laura Vertatschitsch to create and overwhelming half time lead. As a team Whitman shot 55 percent from the floor going 16-29 and 8-9 from the free throw line. Rebounds and defense again helped key a Whitman lead in the half, out rebounding Lewis and Clark 22-10 and only allowing them to shoot for 28 percent, 6-21 from the floor.

Whitman continued their dominance on both ends of the floor in the second half, out rebounding Lewis and Clark 21-15 and shooting 48 percent from the floor going 12-27 as a team. Whitman in the game totaled 43 rebounds to 35 for Lewis and Clark and shot a blistering 51 percent from the floor going 29-56 as a team.

Four Whitman players scored in double figures for the game, Vertatschitsch scored a game high 19 points, while Laird finished with 18 points and 14 rebounds to record her first double-double of her young collegiate career.  Sophomore guard Lizzy Washburn added 11 points and sophomore guard Megan Higgins added 14 points, six rebounds and six assists for the game.

For Lewis and Clark, Lindsay Sweetland scored a double-double with 10 points and ten rebounds, both team highs for the visiting Pioneers.  Lindsay Tarr came off the bench to add 10 points in just ten minutes of play going 5-6 from the floor.

At Whitworth 79, Willamette 53

Spokane, Wash. - For the second consecutive evening defending Northwest Conference champion Whitworth College jumped to a big early lead and cruised to a conference win, this time 79-53 over visiting Willamette University on Monday night.

Whitworth's pair of star forwards had another big night as well. All-American Tiffany Speer scored 30 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while reigning NWC Player of the Week Sarah Shogren finished with 26 points and 10 boards. Guard Dani Bielec finished with a game-high 12 rebounds to lead the Bucs, who outrebounded the Bearcats 50-24.

After Willamette took an early 8-6 lead, Whitworth went on a 21-3 run to open up a 27-11 advantage with 6:10 to play in the first half. Whitworth led 37-17 at halftime.

Whitworth quickly extended the lead to 26 points (48-22) on a three-pointer by Speer just under five minutes into the second half. Whitworth's biggest lead was 28 points (58-30) and the Bucs never led by less than 23 points the rest of the way.

Brianne King scored 14 points while Megan Scheelar had seven rebounds to lead Willamette. The Bearcats fell to 4-7 overall and 0-2 in the NWC.

Whitworth, ranked 25th, improved to 10-1 overall and 2-0 in the NWC with their eighth straight win. The Pirates will play key games at Pacific Lutheran and Puget Sound on Friday and Saturday, respectively.