Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – For the second time this season the Whittier College women's basketball team has pushed the Athena's of Claremont-M-S but to no avail as they fell 58-39 Saturday night in the Graham Athletic Center losing their third straight Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) contest.

Playing without three main contributors, Sara Irvine (Santa Rosa, Calif.), Krishauna Leftridge (Berkeley, Calif.), and Amia Thrash (Eastvale, Calif.) who were out with injuries, Whittier's (7-10, 3-6 SCIAC) offense was held in check scoring a mere 18 points in the first half and 21 in the second en route to shooting just 21.4% from the field.

Ana Youngblood (Washington D.C.) was the lone Poet in double figures as she added a double double with 12 points and an impressive 17 rebounds.  She was joined by Dannika Navales-Lugtu (San Francisco, Calif.) who had nine points all coming from behind the arc, while Kamila Auls (Long Beach, Calif.) added four points, a steal, and five rebounds off the bench.

Whittier fell behind early 6-0 and saw that stretch to 13-5 at the 13:42 mark.  Six unanswered would pull the Poets within five 16-11 but they would be outscored 16-6 over the final 8:20 to trail 32-18 at the break.

In the second half two Youngblood layups and a Navales-Lugtu three pointer would provide a spark early for the Purple & Gold that pulled them within single digits 34-25 but that's as close as they would get as CMS' height would take over inside down the stretch that provided them the 19 point victory.

Kimberly Scamman led the Athena's with 15 points and seven boards, she was joined by Alyson Young who chipped in with 12 points off the bench, while Mara Falahee had seven points and a team high 11 rebounds. 

Whittier remains at home this Wednesday, January 4 as they host La Verne beginning at 7:30pm.