SPOKANE, Wash. - The No. 6-ranked Carroll Women's Basketball team picked up their first win of the 2023-24 season on Monday, topping NCAA Division III opponent, Whitworth, 64-54 in Spokane.

The Fighting Saints (1-1) coasted to a 10 point win over the Pirates (0-0) in a game that was not nearly as close as the scoreboard might reflect.

A combination of hot shooting, and defensive miscommunication on the Saints' end saw Whitworth take an early lead, but Carroll would have the advantage after one, 18-14.

Jamie Pickens (Helena, Mont. / GR) nearly posted a double-double in the first quarter, finishing the frame with 10 points and seven boards.

Pickens would eclipse the double-digit rebound mark in the second quarter, finishing the half with 11 total rebounds, and Maddie Geritz (Boise, Idaho / GR) added six points to give Carroll a 12-point lead at the halftime break, 36-24.

Coach Sayers went to her bench in the second half, with several Saints getting their first action of the year, including Spokane native Elliot Hencz (Spokane, Wash. / SO). 

Pickens and Kyndall Keller (Havre, Mont. / SR) did the majority of the scoring for the Saints in the second half, with the pair combining for 20 of the Saints' 28 second-half points.

For the second-straight game, Pickens posted a double-double, she finished her afternoon with a monster 27 points and 15 rebounds, as well as a block and two steals.

Maddie Geritz added 14 points, and Keller finished with 10 to round out the top scorers for the Saints.

Ava Oakland (Boise, Idaho / SO) saw an increased role in the contest, finishing with six rebounds, four points, and three steals in 31 minutes of action.

Up next, Carroll will host NCAA Division I Montana State in an exhibition contest at the Carroll College PE Center on Saturday evening at 7 p.m. That game will be a celebration of 50 years of Women's Basketball at Carroll, and the only way to watch it will be live in-person at the PE Center. Tickets are still available for purchase HERE, and a near-capacity crowd is expected.