REDLANDS, Calif. (Jan. 29, 2024) – The Whittier College women's basketball team fought to another close game with the University of Redlands, however, this time the short-handed Poets dropped a tight game to the Bulldogs thanks to a late surge from the home team.
Junior guard Rhe Nae Leach (Riverside, Calif. / John W. North) had one of her best offensive games in recent weeks in a game where rest came in limited supply for the Poets' starting five. She scored 27 points on 11-of-18 shooting while notching a double-double on 10 rebounds. However, the Bulldogs challenged the Poets on the glass just as they did in the two teams' first meeting in Whittier. The difference this time came in the form of Redlands making on good more opportunities for second chance points. Meanwhile, the Bulldogs were light-out from the free throw line.
Nevertheless, the Poets competed with a tough Bulldogs team despite their own lack of numbers. Whittier trailed Redlands by just one basket heading into the final period, and even held a slight half-time advantage, 30-29, at the break.The Poets simply ran out of gas down the stretch, but not before putting up a significant fight. After all, the Purple & Gold did manage to shoot 47 percent from the field, buoyed by not only Leach, but junior guard Abby Pagila (Oakland, Calif. / Bishop O'Dowd), who had a career scoring night with 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Whittier also assisted on 15 out of 27 team field goals, with all five starting players successfully feeding a teammate at least once.
The Poets also had to contend with foul trouble for the majority of the second half. Without the reinforcements to absorb fouls, the Poets had a tougher time playing diligent, aggressive brand of defense with four of five starters finishing with at least three fouls. This did not, however, deter the visiting team from making some key plays off the ball to will them back into the game. Junior guard Lulu Salloom (Santa Clarita, Calif. / Saugus / College of the Canyons) had two blocks and nearly double-doubled yet again with 13 points and eight rebounds.
Despite their lack of numbers, the Poets found themselves knotted at 63 points apiece with the Bulldogs with just 74 seconds remaining in the game. The Poets took a long possession to whittle the clock down to 55 seconds, but the Bulldogs responded with an even longer possession that saw them deliver a fatal blow; with a tough and-one conversion. Redlands finished the game out from the free throw line, but it remains to be seen if this will be the final meeting between the two teams this season.
Head Coach Roy Dow and the Poets will have a short recess from SCIAC competition, and will take instead take on the University of California, Santa Cruz on Thursday, Feb. 1 at 7 p.m before returning home to host Occidental College over the ensuing weekend.
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