Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotograhy.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – Coming off a tough loss to Chapman University where the Poets led by as many as 18 Saturday afternoon, the Whittier College Women's Basketball team bounced back in the Graham Athletic Center Wednesday evening and held off the Leopards of the University of La Verne 74-68.

This marks the Poets second win in their past three games as they improve to 4-7, 1-1 SCIAC as they move into fifth place in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) standings.

Despite a combined 51 turnovers being made in the game, the Purple & Gold were able to use a big fourth quarter to hold off the Leos moving their home record back to .500 at 3-3. 

The Poets were outshot for the game 47%-38%, were outrebounded 41-35 but made up for it on second chance opportunities (20-9) and points in the paint (40-34).

Playing without top bench scorer Daniza Rodriguez (San Jose, Calif.), the Poets still found themselves tied at the half 30-30. 

In the third, La Verne made their push outscoring Whittier 22-17 taking a lead despite committing 28 turnovers up until that point.  But in the fourth the Poets came back shooting 52.6% from the field forcing another five turnovers, which proved costly for ULV.  Kaylah Alexander (Altoona, PA) proved huge on the glass hauling in six of her game high 11 rebounds, while pouring in nine of her 11 points in the final ten minutes.

Alexander gave the Poets the lead for good with a second chance opportunity with 3:48 left in the game and although the Leopards stayed within a possession up until the final seconds they were unable to convert on the other end, while Priscilla Rodriguez (East Los Angeles, Calif.) and Alexander secured the win with free throws.

Rodriguez again had a breakout game with 17 points.  Ana Youngblood (Berkeley, Calif.) barely missed out on a double double but had an impressive stat line with 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting, hauling in nine boards, an assist, and four steals.

Christine Miller (Gilbert, AZ) was the fourth Poet in double figures chipping in with 14 and four rebounds and Alexander had her first double double of the season with 11 points, 11 rebounds, and two blocks.

Shannon Irwin led all players with 18 points and added three rebounds and two steals for La Verne, while Emily Myers despite having early foul trouble finished with 10 points and seven rebounds.

Whittier remains at home this Saturday, January 9 as they host Claremont-M-S beginning at 4:00pm.