RIVERSIDE, Calif. - The Whittier College women's basketball team had four players reach double figures as it turned an 11-point halftime lead into a 31-point, 77-46, win over La Sierra University on Friday afternoon.

The Poets (2-0) were led by Essence Scott who scored 10 points and pulled down a game-high nine rebounds with one blocked shot. Scott shot 4-of-9 from the field and was a perfect 2-for-2 from the charity stripe.

La Sierra connected on a three-pointer on its first possession and led for only one minute of the ball game. Ashante Reid gave the Poets a 4-3 lead at the 18:48 mark of the first half and the purple and gold would not trail again.

Reid finished with a game-high 14 points and added four rebounds and two assists in the win.

LSU tied the score at 10 with just over 13 minutes to play in the half but the Poets opened up the game with a 14-2 run over the next 6:10 to hold a 24-12 advantage. Whittier went into the intermission with a 36-25 lead.

The Poets stretched its second half lead to 23 points at 50-27 with 15:36 to play and reached a game-high 32-point cushion at the 7:30 mark before it cruised to the lopsided win.

Whittier shot over 57 percent (19-of-33) from the field in the second half and went for 48 percent for the game. The Poets were 13-of-33 for 39 percent in the first half.

"We really focused the second half on getting the ball inside," said head coach Brad Durchslag. "That was the big reason in our second half success from the field."

Kourtney Zilbert scored 12 points and had three steals while Tina Merlino matched her game-high three steals and added 10 of her own points.

As a team the Poets forced 14 of La Sierra's 18 turnovers and outrebounded LSU 43-24.

The Poets have a quick turnaround as they host Pacific Union College on Sunday, November 22, at 6 pm.