Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. – The Whittier College women's basketball team's playoff picture has now been erased as they fell to the Regals of Cal Lutheran University 65-47 Thursday evening.

Whittier now drops to 7-15, 4-7 SCIAC, while Cal Lutheran moves to 15-7, 8-3 SCIAC still staying strong at No. 3 in SCIAC.

In order for the Poets to make playoffs they had to win out meaning getting wins over Cal Lutheran, Occidental, La Verne, and Pomona-Pitzer but the opportunity has now disappeared and the Poets are fighting to remain in fifth place. 

Tanisha White led the Poets with her second double double of the season finishing with 10 points and 11 boards on 2-of-9 shooting.  Monica Salazar came off the bench to play 23 minutes shooting 3-of-5 for seven points.

Chelsey Hastigan led the Regals with a game high 19 points going 5-of-11 from behind the three point line and started the game off with nine points with back to back to back threes to open up a 13-4 lead.  Cal Lutheran then extended their lead to 23-8 but Whittier wouldn't go away as they went on a 9-0 run that cut the lead to six.

They then went on a 7-0 run to get within four at the 1:44 mark in the first half but the Regals closed out the half on an 8-2 run to take a ten point lead into the break.

Coming out of the break the Poets and Regals swapped baskets but an 8-0 run and 6-0 run ran the lead to 19 in favor for Cal Lutheran.  The Poets attempted to make one final push but they were only able to muster seven points in the last 6:07 of the game.

Despite being knocked out of playoff contention, Whittier looks forward to acting as spoilers as they host the Tigers of Occidental College on Saturday, February 11 beginning at 5pm for the annual PAC the GAC.  The last time these two teams met, Whittier lost by four in the final minute of play and they look forward to another tough contest.