Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College Women's Basketball team played the Athena's of Claremont-M-S tight Saturday afternoon early but couldn't hold on as they fell 66-46 in the Graham Athletic Center.

CMS who hasn't dropped a conference game in the past two seasons proved tough for the Purple & Gold as they jumped out to a 17-3 lead following the first quarter.  The deficit soon moved to 23-3 after back to back baskets from Mara Falahee to start off the second but the Poets would put together a run with Ana Youngblood (Berkeley, Calif.) chipping in with six points that pulled the Poets within 15 but that's as close as they would get as Quinn Glosniak and Kailee Severt would add a free throw and three pointer that closed out the first half for the Athena's.

Whittier and CMS would swap baskets to start the second half.  Carly Buechler (Denver, CO) would find her stroke from long range going a perfect 3-3 from the field, which included two triples as she added eight points. 

Then in the fourth the Poets applied the pressure forcing five turnovers and outscoring the Athena's 19-17, with Buechler adding another seven points but it would be a little too late as CMS would roll to the 20-point victory.

Buechler finished with 15 points, had four steals and two blocks.  She was the lone Poet in double figures and was joined by Youngblood who had eight coupled with eight boards and three steals.

Whittier looks to bounce back tomorrow night, Tuesday, January 12 when they travel to Pomona-Pitzer to take on the Sagehens beginning at 7:30pm.