Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

LA VERNE, Calif. – The Whittier College women's basketball team dropped their sixth straight game Thursday evening to the Leopards of the University of La Verne 98-77 dropping their record to 5-17, 2-11 SCIAC.

La Verne now sweeps the series with the Poets after narrowly pulling out a 41-39 victory back on November 29.  La Verne who is seeking a SCIAC Post Season Tournament Appearance saw four players record double figures including Leslie Steele and Brittni Tapia who poured in 18 points apiece off the bench.

Whittier answered though with their own four players recording double figures led by Dannika Navales-Lugtu and Casceal Swaggard who poured in 14 points apiece, while Ashley Genie and Danielle Hays chipped in with 12 and 11 points, each respectively.  Genie also hauled in a game high 12 rebounds, helping her post her first double double of the season. 

The Poets kept the game close throughout the first half pulling within four at 31-27 at the 5:30 mark, but a 14-0 run would extend the Leopard lead to 45-29 before they closed out the half on a 9-3 run moving the score to 54-32. 

Whittier outshot the Leopards 36%-35% and from the charity stripe 77%-60% and outrebounded the Leopards 57-53, but the Purple & Gold were unable to bounce back from turning the ball over 37 times, which led to 35 points for La Verne.

Whittier returns to action this Saturday, February 9 when they travel to Orange, Calif. to take on the Panthers of Chapman University with tipoff set for 5:00pm.