Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – Senior Dannika Navales-Lugtu (San Francisco, Calif.) was lights out Monday evening during her senior night as she lifted the Poets to the 82-65 win over the University of Redlands. 

Despite being knocked out of Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Post Season contention, Whittier looks to end the season on a high note winning their final three games to get back to .500 as they improve to 11-12, 7-8 SCIAC.

Playing in her final home game of her collegiate career, Navales-Lugtu put on a show lighting it up from long range finishing with a game high 27 points with 21 of them coming from behind the arc.  She was 9-of-19 from the field was 7-of-14 from deep, and had three assists.

Whittier shot 45% from the field and 52% from behind the arc and turned the ball over just eight times compared to Redlands' 19. 

The game went back and forth in the first thirteen minutes of play until Carly Buechler (Denver, CO) opened things up with two three pointers and two free throws that put the Poets up fourteen 34-20. Right before two layups from Ana Youngblood (Berkeley, Calif.) would put a stamp on the first half with the Purple & Gold leading 38-26.

The second half again went in favor of Whittier.  They opened with a 10-4 run to start things off that put them up eighteen and they didn't look back as they kept the momentum in their favor en route to the seventeen point victory. 

Buechler finished with 15 points shooting 50% from the field, which included four three pointers.  Amia Thrash (Eastvale, Calif.) had eight points off the bench and Krishauna Leftridge (Washington D.C.) led the rebounding effort with seven.

Whittier returns to the court in their season finale tonight, Tuesday, February 24 as they travel to Claremont, Calif. to take on the Sagehens of Pomona-Pitzer beginning at 5:30pm.