WHITTIER, Calif. (Dec. 15, 2024) – Senior forward
Lorita Salloom (Santa Clarita, Calif. / Saugus / College of the Canyons) of the Whittier College women's basketball team found her offensive form against a tough Occidental College team, and spurred the Poets to their second SCIAC victory of the season on Sunday. The Poets defeated the Tigers, 67-56.
Whittier drew a tough defensive matchup in the front court with the Tigers' starting center, and needed an answer on the other end of the floor. Salloom provided that, scoring 19 of her 22 points in the first half and 15 of those 19 points in the first quarter alone. As much of a paint presence as Salloom has been since arriving in Whittier last season, the Santa Clarita native got it done primarily thanks to her mid-range jumper.
In the second quarter, the Tigers began to key in on Salloom defensively, paving the way for senior guard
Rhe Nae Leach (Moreno Valley, Calif. / John W. North) to take off in her own right. She double-doubled with 19 points and 11 rebounds in another powerful statement towards case for SCIAC Women's Basketball Athlete of the Year. Meanwhile, Salloom's defense began to tip the scales even after her offensive production began to wane. She had five steals, three of which came in the midst of her big first quarter.
The game came down to Whittier being able to get each of their offensive weapons going whereas Oxy struggled to establish a presence from deep. The Poets held the Tigers to 2-of-16 shooting from deep, while senior guard
Kristen Lopez (Lancaster, Calif. / Lancaster / Elmhurst University) accounted almost entirely for her side's presence from beyond the arc. Lopez knocked down four triples, and was fouled on a would-be fifth and instead claimed all three of the points from the free throw line. She finished with 17 points, and her proficiency from deep allowed things to open up for Leach as the game progressed. Even as Oxy worked its way back into the game in the first half of the final quarter, the Poets always had an answer to keep the Tigers from taking the outright lead.
In addition to Whittier's top three scorers, sophomore guard
Yaneli Rosales (San Diego, Calif. / Mount Miguel) made several key plays throughout the game. She pulled down six rebounds, and forced an Oxy turnover on a 10-second violation in the back court thanks to strategic anticipation of the Tigers' ball handler.
Head Coach
Kristen Dowling and the Poets won't be back at home until Dec. 30. In the meantime, they will hit the road to rematch the University of California, Santa Cruz on Sunday, Dec. 29 at 1 p.m. Dowling's Poets took the first meeting, 63-56, in Whittier back in November.
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