TACOMA, Wash. (Nov. 22, 2022) – Whittier College won its first game of the season Tuesday night, 53-42, holding Pacific Lutheran University to 31% shooting with 19 turnovers. The Poets held the lead from start to finish, leading by as much as 16 points with 1:19 remaning in the contest.

Senior Lainie James paced the Poets in scoring with a game-high 22 points and a team-high six rebounds. The La Habra, Calif. native went 4-for-7 from beyond the arc, also adding two steals and one block.

Sophomore Rhe Nae Leach contributed 15 points, five rebounds and a game-high seven assists. 

Senior Lizzie Scriven also featured prominently in Tuesday's win, scoring a career-high 12 points on 5-for-7 from the field and 2-for-4 from deep. Her previous career high was 11 points Jan. 15, 2020 during her freshman season at home against Pomona-Pitzer. The guard's game-high four steals Tuesday also marked a career high.

The Poets dominated the paint, outscoring the Lutes 28-10 in the key.

Whittier continues its three-game Pacific Northwest road trip, Friday against Lewis & Clark 3 p.m. at the University of Puget Sound.

Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

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