Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

ORANGE, Calif. – The Whittier College women's basketball team suffered an 86-68 setback Wednesday night as they dropped the season series to Chapman University at the Hutton Sports Center.

Whittier drops to 9-11, 5-7 SCIAC but still remain in SCIAC Post Season Tournament contention as they in sixth place in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) standings.

Chapman (10-10, 8-4 SCIAC) now takes over sole possession of third-place in the SCIAC standings.

The Panthers jumped out in front quickly 18-4 in the first seven minutes of the game.  But the Poets battled back from the 14 point deficit completing a 9-2 run sparked by back to back jumpers from Priscilla Rodriguez (East Los Angeles, Calif.) with 4:34 to play in the first half that pulled them within three 37-34.

After trailing 41-39 at the break the Purple & Gold came out hot in the second half going on a 10-7 run, which tied the game up at 50-50.  But the Panther's heavy pressure was too much as CU would jump back out in front 64-50 with 10:18 to play.  Chapman extended the lead to 79-58 and with a 21 point lead with 5:03 the deficit proved too much to overcome as Whittier fell 86-68. 

In a game with a combined 49 turnovers and 21 steals, the Poets Erica Houston (Stockton, Calif.) recorded a game and career high six steals.  Carly Buechler (Denver, CO) led the offensive unit for the Poets finishing with 15 points on 6-of-10 shooting.  She was joined by Ana Youngblood (Berkeley, Calif.) who had 11 points and eight boards, while Rodriguez chipped in with 10 points. 

Kaylah Alexander (Altoona, PA) had seven points and seven rebounds, and Amia Thrash (Eastvale, Calif.) had nine points, three steals, and six rebounds off the bench.

Whittier remains on the road this Saturday, February 14 as they take on Cal Lutheran University beginning at 2:00pm.