Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif.- The second day of the Purple & Gold Poet Classic got underway Saturday afternoon with a matchup between host Whittier College and Pacific Union, but in the end the Pioneers were able to come away with the victory winning 86-79 despite a career high performance from freshman Priscilla Rodriguez (East Los Angeles, Calif.) who tossed in a 23 points on 8-18 shooting, which included 3-7 from behind the arc.

Whittier continues to seek their first win of the 2013-14 season as they now drop to 0-9, 0-3 SCIAC, while Pacific Union improves to 4-10.

Trailing 17-10 early in the first half, the Poets rallied back to pull within two thanks to Rodriguez who single handily kept the Purple & Gold in the contest providing a spark.  This led to the Poets finishing the first half on a 10-5 run with back to back three pointers coming from Rodriguez and Nicole Ruffino (Las Vegas, NV) giving WC a 43-41 advantage at the break.

The game saw three ties occur in the first two minutes of play in the second half before the Pioneers would go on a 7-0 run to regain the lead 55-48.  Whittier continued to threaten and didn't go away keeping the deficit under five throughout the frame and grabbed a 72-71 lead after a Rodriguez three pointer with 6:10 to play but that would be the last time they would lead as Pacific Union would add two layins and finish the half on an 11-5 run to escape with the seven point victory. 

The Pioneers held the advantage on the glass 48-43, had 24 points in the paint, and totaled 23 points off turnovers but saw the Poets hold the advantage on the bench 43-37.

Behind Rodriguez' career night, Ruffino and Dannika Navales-Lugtu (San Francisco, Calif.) finished with double digits with 12 and 10 points, each respectively, while Danielle Quinones (Marin County, Calif.) nearly missed a triple double with nine points, seven rebounds, and eight assists. 

Pacific Union saw Victoria Aguilera pour in a double double with 26 points with 16 boards, while London Robinson came off the bench with 21 points on 7-14 shooting.  Lidia Rivas and Amber Washington wrapped up the other Pioneers in double digits finishing with 12 and 11 points, each respectively. 

Whittier returns to the court tomorrow, Monday, December 30 when they host Lewis & Clark on the final day of the Purple & Gold Poet Classic beginning at 4:00pm.