Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. –The Whittier College women's basketball team coming off of a big upset win over Linfield prior to Thanksgiving traveled up North to take part in the UC Santa Cruz Invitational but fell to the hosts 69-42. 

Whittier now drops to 1-4 and has been on the road for 4 out of 5 games this season and looks to get back in winning form as they take on a Menlo squad tomorrow afternoon at 4pm who lost to the University of Redlands 76-67 in the first round of the Santa Cruz Invitational. 

The score remained close throughout the first half with neither team able to take a demanding lead as there were five ties and four lead changes.  Whittier did however take a late lead in the sixth minute as they went on a 5-0 run to take a five point lead thanks to a back to back lay ins by freshman Dannika Navales-Lugtu and sophomore Danielle Quinones and a free throw by Alex Coon.

But the Banana Slugs came back as they went on a 5-0 run themselves and took a late lead 23-22 with just under two minutes remaining in the first half, but then extended that lead to 25-22 going into the break. 

Coming out of intermission the Banana Slugs expanded their lead and began pulling away as they scored thirteen unanswered to move the score to 37-24.  This lead would then go up to 49-26, but late in the second half the Poets showed life as they went on a 6-0 run thanks to a Coon layup, a Danielle Hays lay in, and a jumper by freshman Emma Teyecha.  But that wasn't enough as UC Santa Cruz held on for the 69-42 victory.

Whittier was again led by junior Coon who chipped in with 13 points on 5-of-14 shooting, while at the same time grabbing five boards.  Seniors Monica Salazar and Keimi Lew were held scoreless on tonight's contest but the Purple and Gold received strong minutes from Brittany Aranda who finished with six points and six boards and Navales-Lugtu who tossed in seven points and four assists.