Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. (Nov. 21, 2021) – Junior Lainie James (La Habra, Calif. / Sonora) of the Whittier College women's basketball team led the scoring for the Poets in Saturday's game against the University of Puget Sound.

Saturday's game marked the second time in as many days the Poets were paid a visit from a Northwest Conference team and found its toughest test of the season in the 5-1 Loggers. For the third game in a row, the Poets needed to overcome a slow start to work their way back into the game, and for the third-consecutive game, they were successful, entering the first half trailing the Loggers by just two points. Senior point guard Teani White (Burbank, Calif. / Viewpoint) helped wake up the home team with six second-quarter points to go with a pair of assists, and collectively, the Poets outscored the Loggers 18-10 over this stretch.

Though the Poets were unable to complete the comeback on Sunday as they had in previous games, James came into her own during the final 20 minutes scoring 10 of her time-high 16 points and half of the home team's total number of second-half points. She also went 4-for-4 at the free-throw line and came away with four rebounds, two on each end of the floor. Rebounding proved to be a strong point for the Poets throughout Sunday's game, as they came within one rebound of out-working the Loggers on the glass. White had seven rebounds of her own, while freshman Rhe Nae Leach (Riverside, Calif. / John W. North) picked up eight rebounds split equally on offense and defense to go with six points and a pair of blocks befitting for a highlight reel. Additionally, the free-throw shooting off the bench from sophomore guard Kailynn Tuck (Portland, Ore. / Jesuit) also helped the Poets, as all five of the sophomore's points came at the charity stripe on just six attempts. 

Head Coach Roy Dow and the Poets will look to clean some things up and will be back with one more home game before the Thanksgiving Break when they host Whitworth University on Wednesday, Nov. 24 at 4 p.m.

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