Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

WHITTIER, Calif. (Jan. 26, 2022) – Sophomore guard Kailynn Tuck (Portland, Ore. / Jesuit) of the Whittier College women's basketball team found herself in the right place at the right time to make a game-defining play that gave the Poets a 56-55 victory over Chapman University at home on Wednesday evening.

The events leading up to the sophomore's rejection beneath the basket saw the Poets themselves out of an eight point first-quarter hole, needing all four quarters to do it, though their final 10 minutes were far and away the strongest of the game by either team. The Poets held the Panthers to just two field goals in the fourth quarter while the Panthers struggled to find the outside shot that gave the home team fits earlier in the game. Meanwhile, freshman forward Rhe Nae Leach (Riverside, Calif. / John W. North) found her shot in the fourth quarter where she scored eight of her 17 points on the evening. Wednesday marked the second time in as many games Leach scored 17 points, continuing an impressive offensive stretch the for freshman who looks to be hitting her stride on both sides of the ball. Leach was also one of two Poets to double-double for the game with 10 rebounds. The other was senior guard Teani White (Burbank, Calif. / Viewpoint), who pulled down her 10th and final rebound off a missed Chapman free throw with 30 seconds to go. With Whittier clinging to a one-point lead, the Poets were poised to remain undefeated when White double-doubles and that's exactly what they did.

With Chapman getting the ball back with 22 seconds remaining in regulation, the Panthers ultimately scored too soon, giving the Poets a chance to regain the lead before time expired. Leach would go on to achieve the first double-double of her young career on an offensive rebound that she immediately sent back through the hoop to a raucous ovation with 11 seconds to go. From there, the Panthers would fail to convert on a deep jumper from the left wing, prompting a scramble beneath the basket. Tuck, who defended the inital passer, held her ground and stood tall before the offensive rebounder who had her shot swatted away as time expired. Without Tuck making a play on the ball, the Panthers could have swept the Poets, putting the Purple & Gold further behind the 8-ball for SCIAC seeding purposes. Instead, the Poets will guarantee a share of the regular season series with the Panthers, growing one step closer to securing a home court game in the SCIAC Postseason Tournament. White would go on to finish the game with another exceptional all-around line with 14 points, 10 rebounds and five assists while junior forward Lainie James (La Habra, Calif. / Sonora) led all players with a trio of steals. Meanwhile, junior center Bella Robles (Lompoc, Calif. / Lompoc) and freshman guard Tiana Abraham (Portland, Ore. / Central Catholic) made the most of their minutes, with Robles scoring six points to go with three rebounds and a pair of assists while Abraham notched three assists over just 10 minutes of action.

Head Coach Roy Dow and the Poets will have a golden opportunity to finish the week on a three-game winning streak when they travel to California Lutheran University to rematch the Regals, a team the Poets defeated on their home floor, 75-56, earlier this month.

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