WALLA WALLA, Wash. - Mady Burdett showcased a diverse arsenal, posting a double double with 18 points and 11 rebounds while also handing out a game-high six assists to pace the No. 24 Whitman College women's basketball team to a 78-52 win over Lewis & Clark in Northwest Conference action Friday at the Sherwood Center.

Taylor Chambers chipped in 15 points on 5-10 shooting for the Blues who maintained their top spot in the league standings at 11-1 and 17-4 overall. Whitman finished with a 42%-29% shooting differential and capitalized on a 16-8 rebounding advantage on the offensive boards to help with the big win. 

Delsie Johnson led the Pios (2-18, 1-11 NWC) with 17 points on 3-6 shooting from the beyond the arc. Jessica Cerne chipped in eight points and six rebounds.

The Pios got off to a fast start, taking a 15-7 lead by the midway point of the first quarter. A pair of three pointers from Alyx Crager highlighted a 10-2 run to put Lewis & Clark ahead. The Blues would rally and even the game at 17-17. Buckets from Kaylie McCracken and Maegen Martin helped level the score with run continuing and ended up as a 19-2 jaunt spanning two quarters.

The second quarter saw the lead quickly swell to double digits. A Lily Gustafson block ignited a fast break where Chambers split the defense with a perfect bounce pass to a streaking McCracken who finished the layup. Neither team would have much luck on the backside of the second quarter. Peyton Romo hit on a three pointer with 4:01 to play but Kaelan Shamseldin answered with a three ball to put the Blues up 36-23. Shamseldin would connect from three with 20 seconds left to lift the Blues to the 13-point halftime lead.

There was no let up from the Blues as the second half opened. Chambers was on fire early, nailing consecutive three pointers and putting Whitman up 48-30 less than two minutes into the period and forcing a Pioneer timeout. Lewis & Clark managed to not let the game get out of hand with Crager and Johnson hitting at the line to cut the lead to 50-35 with 5:27 to play. The Blues responded, pushing the advantage north of 20 points and taking a 63-40 lead into the fourth quarter.

The lead swelled to as many as 31 points in the fourth period as Coach Ferenz emptied her bench midway through the period.

With just one game on the weekend, the Blues return to action next week for a heavyweight showdown with George Fox. Tipoff at the Sherwood Center is set for Friday, Feb. 8 at 6:00 p.m.