REDLANDS, Calif. - The Whittier College women's basketball team struggled from the field on Saturday evening as it shot 32 percent in a 21-point loss, 69-48, to Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference rival, University of Redlands.

The Poets (14-7, 6-4 SCIAC) were led offensively by Kourtney Zlbert who poured in a game-high 20 points and added eight rebounds and four steals in the loss. Tina Merlino scored 12 points for Whittier.

The Bulldogs (15-6, 7-3 SCIAC) saw three players reach double-figures and had 11 of their 12 players added at least two points.

Whittier trailed by 10, 20-10, with 5:30 left in the first half and was able to cut the Redlands advantage to five points, 24-19, as the teams went into halftime but that was as close as the purple and gold would get.

The Bulldogs built on its intermission lead and led by as many as 29 points in the second half.

Redlands' bench outscored the Poets'bench 19-6 and as a team outrebounded Whittier 35-24.

Despite the set back the Poets remain in contention for one of the four conference playoff spots. Whittier currently sits in fourth place, one-game ahead of Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.

The Poets return to action on Thursday, February 12, as it hosts the California Institute of Technology at 7:30 pm at the Graham Center.