Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

CLAREMONT, Calif. – The Whittier College Women's Basketball team nearly pulled off one of the biggest upsets in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) history Tuesday evening as they fell 72-67 to Claremont-M-S with the game being decided in the final seconds.

The Athena's who haven't lost a conference game this far in the past three years was pushed the distance in the Linde Activities Center. 

CMS (16-4, 11-0 SCIAC) wasted very little time at the start jumping out in front 12-0, but the Purple & Gold had their own response adding ten unanswered with Carly Buechler (Denver, CO) going off with back to back triples and a jumper followed right behind by a Daniza Rodriguez (San Jose, Calif.) jump shot. 

Rodriguez continued her hot hand in the second quarter pouring in another ten points, helping Whittier (5-14, 2-8 SCIAC) win the second frame and go into the half trailing by just eight.

At the beginning of the third it was again Rodriguez continuing with her success from the field jump starting the Poets offense.  She added another jumper and a layup, while Amia Thrash (Eastvale, Calif.) and Buechler would cap off the initial run with back to back three-pointers that gave Whittier their first lead of the game 37-35.

WC's largest lead of the game came midway through the third with Rodriguez adding a jumper and Thrash a free throw that moved the score to 40-37.  But Kailee Severt would spark a 7-0 run for the Athena's that moved the momentum back into their favor. 

In the fourth quarter, the Athena's would extend their lead back to ten but again the Poets would battle back to pull within three 70-67 following an 8-2 run.  This run included back to back triples from Thrash and Kate Nakano (San Francisco, Calif.) and a Thrash jumper but that's as close as they would get despite Whittier getting a couple looks for the tie in the final seconds.

Rodriguez led the Poets with a career high 22 points with five rebounds off the bench.  Buechler had 20 points going 6-of-10 from the field with four steals and Thrash picked up 10 points.  Ana Youngblood (Berkeley, Calif.) and Kayla Alexander (Altoona, PA) led the rebounding effort with a combined 13 boards.       

Whittier remains on the road this Saturday, February 6 as they take on the University of La Verne beginning at 4:00pm.