WHITTIER, Calif. (Nov. 15, 2024) – Fueled by another standout performance from senior guard
Rhe Nae Leach (Moreno Valley, Calif. / John W. North), the Whittier College women's basketball team moved to 3-0, this time knocking off a University of California, Santa Cruz team coming off a win over defending SCIAC champions University of La Verne.
The shorthanded Poets got off to another strong start in the third game of Head Coach
Kristen Dowling's tenure, scoring 16 points in each of the first three quarters while outscoring the Banana Slugs every step of the way. Leach was instrumental here, and had a 9-for-13 shooting line through the game's first 20 minutes. She finished with 30 points, 13 rebounds and five assists, and has now double-doubled in each of Poets' previous two games.
One area where Whittier would need to overcome was in the fouls department. Heading into the fourth quarter, both Leach and standout forward
Faith Boulanger (Burbank, Calif. / John Burroughs / Glendale CC | Cal State San Bernardino) both had four fouls to their name and needed to make smart plays in order to get the Poets over the finish line. Both were able to avoid picking up a fifth foul, while Boulanger chipped in with six points and nine rebounds. Senior forward
Lorita Salloom (Santa Clarita, Calif. / Saugus / College of the Canyons) overcame in her own way by helping to limit the Slugs' start center to just five points.
To supplement Leach's offensive efforts, Whittier also received some timely shooting from senior guard
Kristen Lopez (Lancaster, Calif. / Lancaster / Elmhurst University). The former Elmhurst University Blue Jay knocked down a pair of triples, one of which came off a nice feed from Leach to give her team a 15-point lead in the third quarter.
Dowling and the Poets will return on Thursday evening, Nov. 21, when they host Trinity University (Texas) at 7 p.m. Trinity has received votes in the latest national poll from D3Hoops.
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