Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – After putting together one of their strongest halves of the season, the Whittier College women's basketball team saw the Leopards put together a big second half en route to the 71-59 victory in the Graham Athletic Center.

La Verne jumped in front 8-0 quickly in the first two minutes and then extended it to 12-3 before a Dannika Navales-Lugtu (San Francisco, Calif.) three pointer, a layin by Danielle Quinones (Marin County, Calif.), a jumper from Erica Houston (Stockton, Calif.) and a layup by Priscilla Rodriguez (East Los Angeles, Calif.) pulled the Poets even.

Whittier would tie the game up twice more from that point but could never grab the lead.  After a 6-2 run for the Leos extended the lead to 36-28 with 3:05 to play in the half, the Purple & Gold put together an impressive run adding the final six points of the frame with two free throws coming from Navales-Lugtu, and layins by Kaylah Alexander (Altoona, PA) and Houston that brought the Poets within two 36-34.

Out of the break La Verne struck first with three points and after three free throws from Danielle Hays (San Diego, Calif.) ULV would go on a 14-0 run that covered five minutes that pushed them in front 56-37.  But the Poets responded with their own run with seven straight sparked by a Quinones triple that brought WC within twelve.  Later in the half Whittier would add another run with six straight to pull within single digits but that's as close as they would get as La Verne would extend the lead back to double digits securing the victory.

Navales-Lugtu was the lone Poet in double figures with 13 points to go with five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.  She was joined by Quinones, Hays, and Rodriguez who each added eight.  For La Verne, four players recorded double digits led by Lindsey Foster who tossed in 14, while Riki Merakami and Gaby Moura-Hayes totaled 13 each. 

Whittier returns to action this Saturday, February 15 as they travel into Los Angeles, Calif. to take on Occidental College beginning at 7:00pm.