Box Score Photo by: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com
WHITTIER, Calif. – Wednesday night the Whittier College Women's Basketball team was looking to create separation between them and everyone else, but couldn't stop a second half run by the University of La Verne falling 70-61 inside of the Graham Athletic Center.
The Purple & Gold still hold onto the No. 2 spot within the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Standings at 14-8, 8-4 SCIAC, but are seeing other teams climb up the rankings as Claremont-M-S now trails by a game in 3rd.
It was a hot start for Whittier forcing six La Verne turnovers across the opening three minutes, while going on top 6-0 behind a pair of three-pointers from Cali Cubel (Oceanside, Calif.) and Daisy Cardenas (Santa Clarita, Calif.). Cardenas came back a few minutes later to knock down another triple that moved the score to 13-9 and that sparked a WC run with Emily Guerena (Montebello, Calif.) converting inside twice and Allison Lou (Cerritos, Calif.) adding a three-pointer. ULV tried to keep it close with Destinee Garcia adding a deep ball as well but again Cardenas was a threat at the 1:14 mark completing the hat trick from deep giving the Poets a 23-15 lead.
The 2nd quarter was a whole different story as ULV found their offense outscoring WC 18-1 over the first six minutes swinging the momentum and giving them a 33-24 advantage. Cubel was able to end the run with an and one and freshman Dallas Martinez (Kaneohe, HI) was able to knock down two free throws and convert a layup to keep it at single digits. Whittier was able to keep the momentum from there with Cardenas answering from deep again followed by a Darleen Jae Berberabe (Long Beach, Calif.) layin that tied things up at 36-36.
But over the next :15 seconds ULV would knock down a three-pointer and force a turnover that led to a last second layup putting them back on top 41-36. Whittier showed a great defensive stand in the 3rd quarter outscoring the Leopards 12-8. They stormed back to grab a one-point lead at 48-47 with under a minute to play in the frame thanks to two Kellie Ogata (Torrance, Calif.) free-throws. But with under :05 seconds to play La Verne was able to counter with two of their own free throws that gave them the lead right back.
The game came down to the final 10:00 minutes. La Verne opened the quarter up on an 8-1 run, but that advantage soon diminished as Whittier would rally with three free throws from Teani White (Burbank, Calif.) and Shaeleigh Wright (Long Beach, Calif.) along with a Cubel layup. This made it a two-point game at 57-55, but that's as close as Whittier would get as ULV would knock down back to back triples en route to going on an 8-2 run giving them a 66-57 lead.
Then down the stretch ULV was able to add four free throws that secured the road win.
Whittier shot 32% from the field and 22% from three-point territory. Both teams were tied on rebounds at 48-48, but the Poets were able to win the paint battle 24-16. The difference came with turnovers where the Poets gave it up 19 times, which led to 26 points for ULV.
Guerena off the bench finished with a double double of 14 points and 10 rebounds. She also added three assists, three steals, and two blocks. Cubel registered 13 points with five boards, two steals and two blocks and Cardenas added 12 points all coming from behind the arc. White had a tough night on offense going 2-for-11 from the field for just seven points but registered seven rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Whittier has a big match-up this Saturday, February 8 on the road as they travel down to Orange County to take on Chapman University beginning at 4:00pm.
