Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College women's basketball team saw their offense stall Saturday evening as they dropped a 65-45 decision to the Sagehens of Pomona-Pitzer to fall to 0-13, 0-5 SCIAC.

Turnovers proved costly early for the Poets as they turned the ball over 17 times in the first half and was only able to gather 18 points with six coming from senior forward Danielle Hays (San Diego, Calif.) after finding an offensive drought for nearly 10 minutes midway through.  Whittier went out in front 10-4 quickly, capped off with a three pointer from Priscilla Rodriguez (East Los Angeles, Calif.).  The Sagehens then went on an ensuing 16-0 run ending with back to back old fashioned three point plays from freshman Basha Brulee-Willis who totaled 14 of her game high 19 points in the first half before the Purple & Gold were able to get a jumper from Hays at the 5:08 mark.

Trailing 27-18 with 1:10 to play, Pomona-Pitzer used a last minute 8-0 run to take a commanding lead 35-18 into intermission.  Playing against a Sagehen lineup without their leading scorer Jenn Oknokwo who was out with a concussion, Whittier attempted to cut into the deficit in the second half with a run to pull within 12 with 17:48 to play thanks to a layin by Kaylah Alexander (Altoona, PA).  After a quick PP timeout, the Sagehens came out strong defensively not allowing the Poets to get within single digits.  With the score 45-33 with 8:44 left, Pomona-Pitzer added nine unanswered to build its lead up to 21, which was a margin too much to overcome.

Whittier shot just 29% from the field with a season low 10% from three point territory.  Pomona held the advantage on the glass 39-34 and in the paint 32-12 capitalizing off of the Poet miscues adding 23 points. 

Both Hays and Ashley Genie (Whittier, Calif.) tallied eight points, while Danielle Quinones (Marin County, Calif.) and Carly Buechler (Greenwood Village, CO) finished with six. Quinones finished with a team high seven boards, while Alexander hauled in six. 

Whittier hits the road for two contests this upcoming week with the first coming on Thursday, January 16 when they take on Caltech at 7:30pm before going to La Verne on Saturday, January 18 beginning at 7:00pm.