Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. – The Whittier College Women's Basketball team held a three point lead with :28 seconds left in the game Tuesday evening looking to upset Chapman at home but the Panthers would outscore them 5-1 over the final twenty seconds to earn the 67-66 victory.

If the Poets could've pulled off the upset win, they would have been a game out of playoff contention but now drop to 6-15, 3-9 SCIAC.

The Purple & Gold started off the game hot scoring six unanswered with a jumper and lay-in from Amia Thrash (Eastvale, Calif.) and a lay-up from Ana Youngblood (Berkeley, Calif.).  The lead moved to 10-4 following free throws from Carly Buechler (Denver, CO) andKate Nakano (San Francisco, Calif.), which forced Chapman to take a timeout.

The Poets held a ten point advantage at the 2:22 mark after another four free throws from Christine Miller (Gilbert, AZ) and Buechler but CU would add a 6-2 spurt of their own to close out the period that pulled them within six.

Chapman found their offense in the second quarter outscoring Whittier 22-17.  Daniza Rodriguez (San Jose, Calif.) though kept WC in the game going a perfect 3-for-3 in the 10:00 frame, with seven points helping the Poets take a 35-34 lead into intermission.

The third quarter was deadlocked with each team adding 17 points.  Thrash got the scoring started with a triple, which put Whittier in front by four.  Buechler added a three-pointer later on that moved the score to 46-42 with 3:39 to play but a jumper and three-pointer from Megan Charles and Jaime Hum-Nishikado would give CU their first lead of the game at 47-46. 

Jaryn Fajardo would add two free throws to extend Chapman's lead at 49-46 but the Purple & Gold would go on a 6-2 run to close out the stanza with lay-ups from Youngblood, Kaylah Alexander (Altoona, PA), and Priscilla Rodriguez (East Los Angeles, Calif.) that gave WC a one point advantage.

In the fourth it became a back and forth battle early.  Buechler knocked down a tre to get things started.  But CU would respond with a 5-0 run that put them back in front 58-55.  After a layup from Miller and two free throws from Rodriguez the Poets found themselves leading once again with 2:13 to play and that's when the wheels fell off for the Purple & Gold. 

Following a missed lay-up by Chapman soon after, Whittier's Elizabeth Castillo (Montebello, Calif.) would come down and turn the ball over and pick up a foul, which sent Hum-Nishikado to the line for two free-throws.  She would knock down both that cut the deficit to one for CU.  Buechler then earned an opportunity to extend the lead on free throws with :28 seconds left in the game.  She would convert both from the charity stripe that moved the score to 65-62.

But the next time down the floor, D. Rodriguez would be called for a blocking foul that stopped the clock and sent Lauren Sato to the line for two free throws.  She would knock down one of two that kept the Poets in front by two but on the Poets very next possession P. Rodriguez would turn the ball over on the inbounds play and held Hum-Nishikado right after sending her to the line.

She would make both that tied the game up at 65-65 with :20 seconds left on the clock.

Down the floor, Miller would end up getting fouled, which sent her to the line.  She would miss the first but would knock down the second giving Whittier a one point lead.  Chapman would then call a timeout as they got past half-court.  They drew up a play for Katelyn Serizawa to take a jumper from the endline, which she missed but Fajardo was there for the offensive board in front of three Poet players.  She would go straight up with it and was fouled by Miller.

She would knock down both free-throws that put CU in front 67-66.  Then with :10 seconds left, P. Rodriguez had the best look of the night for the game-winner coming off a high pick, where she came around and drove to the basket with her left hand uncontested but the ball rimmed in and out and the Panthers were able to escape with the one point victory. 

Buechler had another double digit performance with 17 points, had four boards, two assists, and three steals.  Youngblood had a double double with 12 points and ten rebounds.  Miller had 11 points off the bench and Thrash chipped in with 10.

Despite not having any points, Kamila Auls (Long Beach, Calif.) had a strong game finishing with four rebounds, a block, three assists, and four steals.        

Whittier remains at home this Saturday, February 13 as they host Caltech beginning at 4:00pm.