Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. – Junior point guard Priscilla Rodriguez (East Los Angeles, Calif.) lifted the Whittier College Women's Basketball team to a split over the weekend during the UC Santa Cruz December Classic.

Rodriguez, one of the captains for the Purple & Gold poured in a career high 26 points on 10-of-20 shooting against Colorado College en route to Whittier's first victory of the season 68-56 before chipping in with nine points and five assists in a 77-50 loss to host UC Santa Cruz.

Game 1 (Colorado College; W, 68-56)

The Poets got into the win column in their first game of the UC Santa Cruz December Classic as they used a big second half to pull away from the Tigers Saturday afternoon. 

Whittier and Colorado College were tied at 14-14 at the conclusion of the first quarter.  Christina Bowman would convert a lay-up 51 seconds into the second quarter to give the Tigers a slight edge but junior transfer Tarryn Clark (Newark, Calif.) would knock down one of two free throws on the Poets next possession that ignited an 11-1 run that helped give WC a 32-29 lead at the break. 

Rodriguez knocked down a triple to open the third quarter scoring but CC would answer with back to back lay-ups from Katie Wirth and Katie Waters that cut the deficit to two at 35-33.  But that's as close as they would get as the Poets would go on an ensuing 15-9 run that pushed the lead to 50-42 and they didn't look back as they rolled to the 12 point victory in the West Field House. 

Rodriguez finished with a season and career high 26 points and had four rebounds and four assists in 32 minutes of action.  Carly Buechler (Denver, CO) finished with 13 points going 3-of-6 from deep and Ana Youngblood (Berkeley, Calif.) was the last Poet to reach double figures as she finished with 10 points and nine boards. 

Game 2 (UC Santa Cruz; L, 77-50)

In the last game of the Classic, the Poets found themselves matched up against host UC Santa Cruz.  The Banana Slugs would use big first and third quarters that helped them roll to the 27-point victory in Kaiser Permanente Arena. 

UCSC used a 19-9 first quarter run that put the Poets in an early hole.  Whittier fought in the second adding 15 with six coming from sophomore Amia Thrash (Eastvale, Calif.) but it wouldn't be enough as the Poets would find themselves trailing 37-24 at the break and then 54-28 after the third. 

In the fourth they would fight once again finding their offense pouring in 22 points, which included a 11-5 run late sparked with a Daniza Rodriguez (San Jose, calif.) three ball but it would be too late as the Banana Slugs would cruise to the lopsided victory. 

Buechler finished with 12 points.  Rodriguez had nine that went with five assists and Kaylah Alexander (Altoona, PA) led the rebounding effort with seven boards, while Youngblood hauled in six.    

After a four game road stand, Whittier returns home this Friday, December 11 when they host No. 2 George Fox University beginning at 6:00pm.  

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