WHITTIER - Sophomore forward Kourtney Zilbert tallied a double-double as she scored 23 points and added 10 rebounds to lead the Whittier College women's basketball team to a 74-55 win over Ponoma-Pitzer Saturday night at the Graham Athletic Center.

The Poets (12-5, 4-2 SCIAC) trailed 29-25 at the half but outscored the Sagehens (5-11, 1-5 SCIAC) 49-26 in the second half en route to the 19-point win.

Whittier's defense forced 33 Ponoma-Pitzer turnovers as Zilbert led the Poets with five steals. Fellow sophomore Morgan Sabala and freshman Brittany Aranda each added a pair of steals in the win.

Sabala was one of three Poets to finish the game in double figures as she ended her night with 12 points and a game-high six assists. Sophomore Tina Merlino was one rebound shy of her own double-double as she scored 16 points and grabbed nine rebounds.

The Sagehens were led by sophomores Lara Hughes-Stinson and Anja Hughes Stinson who finished with 20 and 14 points each, respectively. 

WC shot 45 percent from the field which includes a 19-for-35 (54 percent) second half effort for the game. The Poets held Ponoma-Pitzer to 26 percent shooting for the night.

Whittier College returns to action on Thursday, January 29, as they travel to Claremont, CA, for a 7:30 p.m. against SCIAC foe Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.