SPOKANE, Wash. – Senior forward Kaylie McCracken totaled 23 points and 12 rebounds as Whitman (Wash.), the No. 4-ranked team at the NCAA Division III level, fought off Southern Oregon for a 74-69 win Saturday in the Quality Inn Whit Classic at Whitworth Fieldhouse.

The Blues (3-0) were up 14 after the first quarter and had their largest lead at 58-39 with two minutes left in the third after a McCracken bucket inside. But the Raiders (2-1) nearly came all the way back, trimming the deficit to one with a pair of Kami Walk free throws with 3:27 left.

The Blues responded with Lindsay Drago's 3-pointer on the next possession. After Walk came back to hit two more at the line, Kaelan Shamseldin hit another 3 for the final blow.

Walk led the Raiders with 22 points, eight rebounds and two steals. She helped them get back in it with 12 points during the fourth quarter, including a 9-of-10 effort at the line.
 
Kalei Iwami sparked the bench efforts with 15 points and three steals. Brianna Phiakhamngon scored 13 and pulled down four rebounds.

The Raiders shot just 31 percent from the field but remained competitive by pulling down 15 offensive rebounds and turning the ball over just eight times. They forced the Blues to commit 16 turnovers.

They'll be home on Wednesday to face Embry-Riddle (Ariz.) at 7 p.m.