Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

ORANGE, Calif. – The Whittier College Women's Basketball team held a slight lead early Saturday afternoon but couldn't hold on as they fell 71-59 to Chapman University.

The Purple & Gold have now lost four of their last five as they drop to 4-13, 3-5 SCIAC but still remain in the hunt for a Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Post Season Berth.

Whittier led 15-14 after the first quarter of play as six different players registered points, while shooting 55% from the field.  The Poets got off to a quick start with an 8-0 run behind jumpers from Emily Underwood (Nicholasville, KY) and Cali Cubel (Oceanside, Calif.) and a pair of layups from Daniza Rodriguez (San Jose, Calif.) and Ana Youngblood (Berkeley, Calif.).

Chapman would answer with seven of their own to pull within one but Rodriguez would come up with big a triple soon after that moved the lead back to four.

A layup from Jazmyn Sudbrook-Johnson (Fremont, Calif.) and a couple free throws from Emilee Dy (Chino Hills, Calif.) would again keep WC in front but with 1:25 to play in the frame, a layup by the panthers would make it a one-point game.

In the second, the lead switched twice before Lauren Sato would drain a three-pointer that gave CU a 21-17 lead with 7:41 to play in the frame.  They continued with the momentum as they would catch fire over the next seven minutes outscoring Whittier 19-6 giving them a 33-21 lead at the break.

Whittier tried to play catch-up over the final two periods combining for 38 points, which included outscoring the Panthers 19-16 in the final 10:00 minutes.  The Poets tried to stay within striking distance but Chapman would come up with big shots down the stretch with Sato leading the charge with 27 points.

Carly Buechler (Greenwood Village, CO) was the lone Poet in double figures with 11 points but also added seven boards, five assists, and four steals.  Youngblood registered nine points and Cubel chipped in with eight points and five rebounds. 

Off the bench, both Sudbrook-Johnson and Dy would add six points a piece, while Underwood and Rodriguez would add six and seven points, respectively.           

Whittier returns home this Wednesday, January 25 as they host Pomona-Pitzer beginning at 7:00pm.