Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

REDLANDS, Calif. – Following a big win over La Verne last Saturday, the Whittier College Women's Basketball team looked to continue moving up in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Standings Wednesday evening but were edged 49-47 by the University of Redlands.

Whittier put together a late push in the fourth quarter outscoring Redlands 16-11, while shooting 43% from the field but it wouldn't be enough as UR would hold on for the two point victory in the SCIAC showdown.

The Purple & Gold got off to a slow start combining for 16 points in the first twenty minutes.  They didn't have an answer for Reyna Ta'amu who added the Bulldogs first seven points in eight minutes but they managed to keep the game close throughout.  Daniza Rodriguez (San Jose, Calif.) and Emilee Dy (Chino Hills, Calif.) added a three-pointer and jumper that gave WC an 8-5 lead early.  Six straight would swing the momentum back with UR soon after though before Jazmyn Sudbrook-Johnson (Fremont, Calif.) would add a layup in the final seconds of the first quarter that made the score 11-10.

A 9-1 run by Redlands would open up the second quarter moving their lead to 20-11 with 5:38 to play in the half.  Whittier would only manage another five points from there coming from Margo Campos (Norwalk, Calif.) on two free throws and Rodriguez adding a free throw and layup as they would go into the half trailing 22-16.

The deficit became double digits to jumpstart the third quarter but it was short-lived as Dy and Sudbrook-Johnson would add a pair of lay-ups followed by Emily Underwood (Nicholasville, KY) adding two free throws that pulled Whittier within four.

Redlands tried to pull away but the Poets would be right there to keep the game tight answering basket for basket as UR would cling to a 38-31 advantage following the third quarter.

Dy got the Poets back on track in the fourth adding the first three points of the period that cut the lead to four.  Freshman Cali Cubel (Oceanside, Calif.) would spark a 6-0 run soon after as she added a layup followed by an Ana Youngblood (Berkeley, Calif.) layin and two free throws.  This would get Whittier within one at 41-40 with 6:29 to play and they continued to battle from there as Underwood would knock down a triple and jumper followed by a Cubel layup that deadlocked the game at 45-45 and then 47-47 with :27 seconds to play.

In the final seconds, Redlands played for one final possession and Jade Cheldelin would answer the call.  She would race up the court and shook two defenders before taking the ball to the rack for the eventual game winner.

Dy was the lone Poet in double figures as she finished with 10 points.  Underwood posted nine with four boards and Youngblood would chip in with seven and six rebounds.

Whittier remains on the road this Saturday, January 21 as they travel to Chapman University with game time set for 2:00pm.