WALLA WALLA, Wash. -- Jenele Peterson scored a game-high 23 points and Sarah Anderegg and Catelyn Webber combined for 24 in their first collegiate starts to lead Whitman College to a 77-65 basketball victory over Pacific Lutheran Saturday afternoon in Sherwood Center.

Whitman evened its Northwest Conference record at 2-2 while improving to 6-5 overall, while Pacific Lutheran, also 2-2 in conference, dropped to 4-8 from the season.

Whitman shot 53 percent from the floor in the first half, rolling up a 40-28 cushion by the break. The Lutes drew no closer than nine points early in the second half, and Whitman took its largest lead at 58-39 with just over 11 minutes left to play.

Samantha Potter posted a Pacific Lutheran double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Mackenzie Bieker gave the Lutes 17 points and five boards, while Jordan Westering added 12 points.

In addition to her 23 points, Peterson had five assists and five rebounds. Webber was 3-for-4 from long distance en route to a career-high 13 points. She snared seven rebounds and keyed the defense with three steals. Anderegg added 11 points and six rebounds and Rebecca Sexton scored 10 points and blocked four shots.

Bieker hit a pair of threes as the Lutes moved in front 13-12 with six minutes gone. That's when Whitman grabbed the momentum with a 13-2 scoring spree over the next five minutes.

Whitman shot 48 percent from the floor for the game and blocked a total of eight shots while holding the Lutes to 34 percent shooting. 

Pacific Lutheran returns to conference action at 6 p.m. next Tuesday when it hosts the nationally ranked Puget Sound Loggers.