WHITTIER, Calif. (Nov. 11, 2024) -- Senior guard
Rhe Nae Leach (Moreno Valley, Calif. / John W. North) of the Whittier College women's basketball team had a huge night, and propelled the Poets to their second win of the season, this time against a tough Bushnell University team. The Poets defeated the Beacons, 83-69.
While the Beacons had several players themselves that would give any SCIAC team problems, the visitors had trouble matching up with the reigning SCIAC Defensive Athlete of the Year. Leach blitzed Bushnell on the fast break to the tune of 28 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists. Six of the senior's assists came in the first half, and most of those came in a first quarter in which the Poets shot 69 percent from the field.
While Bushnell did most of its best work in the half court, the Poets settled into more of a half court offense once they established the lead. However, thanks to Leach and others, the Poets had 10 fast break points in the first quarter, which contributed to a 27-point quarter where Leach and senior transfer
Kristen Lopez (Lancaster, Calif. / Lancaster / Elmhurst University) were the standouts. Lopez shot 50 percent herself for the game, and will complement cornerstone players like Leach and classmate
Lorita Salloom (Santa Clarita, Calif. / Saugus / College of the Canyons) with her outside shooting.
Speaking of Salloom, the senior passed one of her first major tests of the year having to go against Bushnell's 6-foot-4 low-post player. She finished with 18 points and 16 rebounds, making it consecutive games with a double-double to start the year. As well as the Poets shot in the game's early-going, they couldn't have made it to 2-0 without converting on 80 percent of their free throws for the game (20-of-25). Whittier ultimately had its defense to fall back on, and even as Bushnell's top options began to heat up, the Poets never wilted and got legitimate depth contributions from senior
Faith Boulanger (Burbank, Calif. / John Burroughs / Glendale CC | Cal State San Bernardino) (10 points, two three-pointers), and sophomore
Yaneli Rosales (San Diego, Calif. / Mount Miguel) (seven points, three assists).
Head Coach
Kristen Dowling and the Poets will have the opportunity to make it 3-0 to start the 2024-25 campaign when they host the University of California, Santa Cruz on Friday, Nov. 15 at 7 p.m.
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