Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

ORANGE, Calif. – It was a story of two halves Saturday afternoon as the Whittier College women's basketball team couldn't hold an early 18 point lead over Chapman University seeing the Panthers come away with the come from behind 92-85 victory in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) opener.

Whittier (3-7, 0-1 SCIAC) came out firing on all cylinders forcing 13 turnovers in the first quarter with their full court, high-pressure press holding Chapman to just 11 shots helping them take an early lead 30-17.  Behind a 46% shooting percentage in the frame Priscilla Rodriguez (East Los Angeles, Calif.) carried the Purple & Gold pouring in 13 of her team high 22 points to go with three boards.

But Chapman chipped away at the Poet lead in the second quarter closing the gap following a 29-point outpouring, which moved the score to 53-46 at the break.

The Panthers quickly erased the Poet lead in the third quarter scoring the first eight points that moved them in front 54-53.  The lead would change hands a few times before CU would use a 5-0 run that turned a deficit into a 71-68 advantage heading into the final quarter. 

A 12-4 run by the Panthers over the first four-plus minutes of the final stanza gave them a double-digit lead, which proved too much to overcome for the Poets.  Whittier attempted to keep the game close with a 7-0 run with under five minutes to play behind an Amia Thrash (Eastvale, Calif.) jumper, and a three pointer and two free throws from Carly Buechler (Denver, CO), that moved the score to 83-79.

But six free throws by CU down the stretch would close the game out giving them the seven-point victory.

A combined 41 turnovers were made between the teams, Whittier shot 43% for the game, while Chapman had a 50% clip.  The biggest difference in the game was on second chance points as CU outscored WC 26-18 and held the margin in rebounding 43-38.

Rodriguez, along with her 22 points had seven boards, an assist, and two steals.  Daniza Rodriguez (San Jose, Calif.) had her breakout game of her career lighting it up from long range with 16 points on 4-of-8 shooting going 3-of-5 from deep.  Thrash chipped in with 13 off the bench and Buechler and Christine Miller (Gilbert, AZ) each had 11 and 10 points, each respectively.                  

Whittier returns home this week to take on The University of La Verne in the Graham Athletic Center this Tuesday, January 5 beginning at 7:30pm.