Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

REDLANDS, Calif. – The Whittier College Women's Basketball team stumbled on the road Tuesday evening as they couldn't erase a 12 point halftime deficit falling 62-51 to the University of Redlands.

After Priscilla Rodriguez (East Los Angeles, Calif.) gave Whittier (7-16, 4-10 SCIAC) a lead 2-0 it was all UR as they would outscore the Purple & Gold 18-4 over the next 9:30.

The Poets found their offense in the second with Erica Houston (Stockton, Calif.) coming off the bench to add six points going a perfect 3-for-3 from the field with four coming during an 8-0 run.  Carly Buechler (Denver, CO) would add five in the period with a couple steals but WC had no answer for the Bulldog offense as they would add 16 points themselves taking a 34-22 lead into the break.

In the third, both teams struggled offensively combining for 21 points but the Poets managed to pull within six at the six-minute mark with six unanswered from Rodriguez, Buechler, and Ana Youngblood (Berkeley, Calif.).  But a couple of turnovers on the next two possessions would turn the momentum back with the Bulldogs as they would go on to lead 45-32 after three quarters of play.

In the fourth, Whittier put together a comeback outscoring UR 19-17 thanks to a 9-2 run midway through the frame.  Amia Thrash (Eastvale, Calif.) knocked down a triple, Kamila Auls (Long Beach, Calif.) converted a lay-up and Buechler added a couple from the charity stripe but the deficit was too much to overcome as Redlands would hold on for the victory.     

Buechler led the Poets on offense with 13 points and had five steals.  Rodriguez had 10 points going 4-of-9 from the field and Auls led the rebounding effort with five, while also registering three steals and four points.          

Whittier remains on the road this Saturday, February 20 as they take on Occidental College with tip-off set for 7:00pm.