WHITTIER, Calif. (Feb. 18, 2023) - Whittier finished its season strong on the road by battling Chapman in a competitive loss Saturday, holding the Panthers to 47 points on 20.6% from the field and 12.5% from deep.

The Poets matched their largest lead of the game at eight points, leading 15-7 with six seconds left in the fourth quarter after a Citlalli Gurrola three-pointer. The Panthers hit a three of their own at the buzzer, cutting their deficit to five points entering the second quarter.

In the first quarter, senior Bella Robles paced Whittier with five points, and sophomore standout Rhe Nae Leach had a game-high seven rebounds. Leach finished with a career-high 18 rebounds, including six offensive boards, but uncharacteristically did not get to the free-throw line all day. The Riverside native easily led the SCIAC in free throws made and attempted this season.

Whittier held a 26-20 advantage after a Robles three-pointer with 9:15 remaining in the third, but Chapman then went on a 14-0 run to take a 34-20 lead. The Poets would never reclaim the lead, but they did come storming back. Senior Lainie James cut the home team's lead to two points at 41-39 on a layup with 2:27 left in the game.

Ultimately, the Poets fell, 47-39. While Chapman shot abysmally in the game, the game was decided at the free-throw line, where the Panthers had 21 more attempts than their counterparts and outscored them by 18 points.

Chapman made just three shots in each of the first two quarters (3-18 in the first and 3-22 in the second), and the Panthers made just one shot in the fourth (1-10).

Robles had three more blocks Saturday, giving her 14 over her last four games, five consecutive multi-block games and a seven-game block streak. She will likely end the regular season ranked second in the SCIAC in blocks per game. Robles also scored a team-high 10 points in the game.

As of press time, Leach ranked second in the conference in points per game (19.0), tied for third behind teammate Lizzie Scriven in steals per game (2.6), ranked fourth in rebouns per contest (8.5) and placed fifth in assists per game (3.1).

Scrivens' 2.8 steals average put her second in the SCIAC this season, and, as of press time, James was tied in minutes per game with 37.2 and ranked fifth in three-pointers made.

All season, Whittier battled through a multitude of injuries to key players and fought resiliently. In the finale, the team played without starter Kailynn Tuck.

Photo: Tony Leon/ActionWestPhotography.com

Follow and show support for your Whittier Poets on Twitter (@WCPoets), YouTube and Instagram (@PoetAthletics)!