Macalester vs. Whitman statistics | Game action photos on Pictureprints.net

Whitman (Wash.) shot 77% in the second half (17-for-22) and held off a late Macalester charge to defeat the Scots 83-79 in the first-ever college basketball game at Macalester's new Leonard Center. The Missionaries were 30-for-50 from the field on the game, 7-for-16 on three-pointers, and went 16-for-18 from the free throw line to hold off a second half Mac comeback try.

Five Macalester players reached double figures, led by Ann Baltzer (Jr., Bismarck, N.D.) with 18 points. Danielle Johnson (Jr., DeForest, Wis. / Edgewood) added 15. Joining Baltzer and Johnson in double figures were Holly Schiedermayer (Fy., Waupaca, Wis.) with 11 points, and Trina PaStarr (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn. / Southwest) and Majra Mucic (So., Zenica, Bosnia / St. Louis Park, Minn.)) With 10 apiece. Earth Bell (Jr., Minneapolis, Minn. / Breck) contributed four assists and four steals.

Rebecca Sexton scored 19 points and Michelle Krall added 17 points and four assists to lead the Missionaries, who are the pre-season picks to win the Northwest Conference. Jenele Peterson and Hillary White chipped in 13 points each.

Macalester crashed the boards for 19 offensive rebounds, compared to four for Whitman, and enjoyed a +6 turnover advantage. Mac's domination on the boards led to a big 23-3 advantage in second chance points.

The game was tied up at 33-33 at the halftime break as the Scots were led by Schiedermayer with 11 points and Mucic with eight in the first 20 minutes. The Missionaries took control of the contest in the second half, making 15 of their first 16 shots, and led by 12 points at 70-58 with 7:27 to go. Macalester, however, fought back with eight unanswered points to get to within four points at 70-66 with 5:20 to go. The contest was close the rest of the way, but good Whitman free throw shooting clinched the victory.

Mac returns to action Sunday (Nov. 23) when it hosts Oberlin (Ohio) at 2 p.m.