BRUNSWICK, Maine (Nov. 18, 2023) – The Whittier College women's basketball team got a big performance out of talented junior
LuLu Salloom (Santa Clarita, Calif. / Saugus | College of the Canyons), who helped the Poets to their third victory in four games to start the season, and their second in as many days against Coastal Classic host Bowdoin College on Saturday.
Salloom has been huge for the Poets as a third scoring element to go with junior guard
Rhe Nae Leach (Riverside, Calif. / John W. North) and senior forward
Lainie James (La Habra, Calif. / Sonora | Concordia University Irvine), but turned in her strongest performance of the season with 21 points on 9-of-12 shooting. Salloom posed problems for the Bears in the paint on both sides of the ball, and also picked up her second double-double in as many games with 10 rebounds. One day after holding Southern Maine University to under 40 points, the Poets returned against a more tested Bowdoin team playing on their home floor. Nevertheless, the Poets triumphed with four closely-contested, but strong quarters in which they only got better as the game progressed.
Playing the entire game, Salloom and the Poets had to contend with some talented front court players on the Bowdoin side, but Whittier's smothering defense eventually took a toll on the Bears, as the Poets' largest lead of the game (nine points) came midway through the fourth quarter. With both teams tied at 46 points apiece, the Poets embarked on a 10-1 run that proved instrumental in the visitors securing a victory. Salloom scored six points during this run, capping it off with a layup down low that put her team up nine in the game's crucial minutes.
The Poets ultimately had to hold the Bears off during one last spurt over the final five minutes, but the Purple & Gold's defensive principles proved to be more than enough for them to effectively shut the door and earn a crucial win on the road. Both Leach (14-6-5) and James (16-6-6) posted significant all-around lines on offense, while Leach managed her second three-steal outing in as many tries. As a collective whole, Whittier got the job done from the free throw line, converting on 17 of 20 attempts.
For her efforts, Salloom was named MVP of the Coastal Classic, while Leach was selected to the All-Classic Team.
Head Coach
Roy Dow and the Poets will return to action with one more road game on Wednesday, Nov. 22 when they travel to New York University (NYU).
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