The Whittier College women's basketball team started the conference season with a 2-0 start, but since has dropped three in a row.  The most recent defeat came on January 24, when the Poets lost 58-53 at the University of Redlands.  The three-game skid puts Whittier at 6-9 overall and 2-3 in conference play this season.

Kourtney Zilbert '11 and Rosario Rios-Aguilar '08 led the Poets with ten points and seven rebounds apiece.  Zilbert recorded five rebounds on the offensive end and finished with four steals and two assists as well.  Erica Amico '10 hit a pair of three-pointers and ended with eight points.  Marie Vodicska '11 also scored eight points.

The Bulldogs (12-3, 5-0) were led by Heather Lokar who scored 13 points and grabbed seven rebounds.  Meghan Yetman finished with twelve points and eight rebounds.  Alison Lavine pulled down a game-high ten rebounds and Valerie Katayama was credited with nine points, six assists and five rebounds. 

The game was tight throughout.  The score was tied nine times and the lead changed hands eight times.  The Poets held a halftime lead of 26-21 as they held Redlands to just 25% shooting in the opening frame.  The Bulldogs came back, shooting nearly 50% from the field in the second half and made 13-of-15 from the charity stripe to secure the five-point victory.  The Poets made only nine field goals in the second half, and went 0-for-6 from long range. 

The Poets look to bounce back against Pomona-Pitzer on January 26.  The SCIAC game starts at 5:00pm in the Graham Athletics Center.