Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. (Dec. 1, 2021) – The Whittier College women's basketball team scored its fifth victory in as many meetings with Occidental College on Wednesday night, taking down the Tigers, 64-50, behind a pair of 20-point efforts from junior Lainie James (La Habra, Calif. / Sonora) and senior Teani White (Burbank, Calif. / Viewpoint).

The Poets once again needed to overcome a slow start to get back into the win column, but took control of the game with a big second quarter before putting their stamp on the evening with an even bigger third quarter. Even with the home team a little slow to get out of the gate, the Poets did a number on the Tigers defensively through the first 10 minutes, opening the door for big moments to come. James lifted the Poets into the break by scoring seven of her 20 points in the second period to go with five of her 10 rebounds. The junior forward would go on to complete her first double-double of the young season in the fourth quarter, while White asserted her dominance with a big second half. The senior guard had nine points in the third and fourth quarter respectively, and finished with 22 for the game to go with seven rebounds and four assists.

Whittier's defensive pressure helped keep the Tigers honest offensively from start to finish. Occidental finished the game with 22 turnovers, six of which resulted in steals for the home team. James notched half of her side's steals, putting together one of the most complete single-game performances of any Poet thus far this season. However, the real key to victory for the Poets proved to their perimeter shooting. Late in the first quarter, the Tigers made the mistake of leaving sophomore wing Risa Olson (Austin, Texas / Austin Waldorf School) open at the top of the key, resulting in classmate Tiana Abraham (Portland, Ore. / Central Catholic) finding her for the first of nine Whittier three-pointers. The Poets ended up shooting 50-percent from three, a new season-high that made for an uphill climb for the Tigers throughout the second half. Olson finished the game with six points stemming from a pair of three-pointers, while sophomore Kailynn Tuck (Portland, Ore. / Jesuit) also contributed in a big way with eight points, five rebounds and two assists. Whittier also showed great game-to-game improvement on the glass, and while they were only able to outrebound their opponents by one, they managed to pull down 26 defensive rebounds to Occidental's 19. Senior forward Shaeleigh Wright (Long Beach, Calif. / Long Beach Millikan) contributed heavily in this area, pulling down seven rebounds, three of which came on the offensive end. 

Head Coach Roy Dow and the Poets will look to build on their momentum against conference opponents when they travel to Caltech to meet the Beavers on Saturday, Dec. 4 at 4 p.m.

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