Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College Women's Basketball team looked strong Saturday afternoon as they dominated the University of La Verne 72-62 at the Sports Science and Athletic Pavilion.

Whittier has now gone 2-2 over their past four games and have played strong basketball over the past two as they improve to 6-14, 3-8 SCIAC.

The Purple & Gold put the Leos in an early hole jumping out in front 15-4 with a couple three-pointers coming from Carly Buechler (Denver, CO) and another from Amia Thrash (Eastvale, Calif.).

Thrash would add another jumper and Ana Youngblood (Berkeley, Calif.) and Kamila Auls (Long Beach, Calif.) would add lay-ins that supplied the run.

In the final minutes of the first quarter though ULV would go on their own run with eight points that closed the gap to 17-12.

In the second quarter, the game remained deadlocked with both teams pouring in 16 points apiece with seven coming from Thrash as Whittier held a five point lead at the half.  La Verne provided a burst in the early stages of the third grabbing a 41-40 lead, their first since early in the first quarter but that lead would be short-lived as Whittier would respond with three unanswered baskets, which included lay-ins from Kaylah Alexander (Altoona, PA), and Christine Miller (Gilbert, AZ).

This would give WC a lead 51-48 heading into the final frame and they didn't look back as they ran away with the game early.  Thrash made a pair of lay-ups and Buechler knocked down a triple that opened the deficit to double digits for ULV and that would be as close as they would get as eight free throws in the final 4:00 from Erica Houston (Stockton, Calif.), Thrash, and Miller would secure the road victory.

Thrash had her breakout game of the season pouring in a game high 26 points on 9-of-18 shooting with five rebounds.  Buechler was the other Poet in double figures with 17 and was one rebound shy of a double double.  Alexander had eight points and five rebounds and Miller had eight points off the bench in 15 minutes of action. 

Whittier returns to the court tomorrow, Tuesday, February 9 when they take on Chapman University beginning at 7:30pm.