CLAREMONT, Calif. (Dec. 7, 2024) – The Whittier College women's basketball team held together and withstood some late-game drama to win a defensive struggle with Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges on the road. The Poets defeated the Athenas, 48-46, in Head Coach
Kristen Dowling's return to the team she previously coached for seven years.
For the game's entirety, senior guard
Rhe Nae Leach (Moreno Valley, Calif. / John W. North) put on an offensive master class, no matter whether in offensive sets, on the fast break, or at the free throw line. She finished with 32 points -- a season high, as well as the second time this year she has crossed the 30-point threshold. She also went a perfect 8-for-8 at the free throw line. However, the Athenas hung around for the entire game, and came seconds away from sending the game to overtime in the waning seconds.
Trailing by four points with eight seconds to go, senior guard
Kristen Lopez (Lancaster, Calif. / Lancaster / Elmhurst University) knocked down a prime three-pointer on a pass from sophomore guard
Yaneli Rosales (San Diego, Calif. / Mount Miguel) to cut the Athenas' lead to just one. On the ensuing possession, the Athenas made a bad pass allowing Lopez to capitalize for the steal. Going back the other way, Lopez found Leach for the go-ahead layup, but the Poets star took a hard foul, causing her to temporarily leave the floor so Rosales could attempt to final free throw. The sophomore's attempt was good, giving the Poets a two-point lead, and seemingly, the win. However, CMS threw the ball down the length of the floor and put up a Hail Mary shot that was seemingly successful. However, upon officials' review, the basket would be waved off with the officials ruling "no shot" on the play.
Whittier's proficiency on the glass helped give them just enough opportunities to ultimately come away with the victory. Leach double-doubled with 10 rebounds, while classmate
Lorita Salloom (Santa Clarita, Calif. / Saugus / College of the Canyons) led all players with 13. Additionally, senior forward
Faith Boulanger (Burbank, Calif. / John Burroughs / Glendale CC | Cal State San Bernardino) blocked four shots in 29 minutes of action.
Dowling and the Poets will have eight days to themselves before returning to their home floor on Sunday, Dec. 15. They will host Occidental College at 7 p.m.
Follow and show support for your Whittier Poets on Twitter (@WCPoets), YouTube and Instagram (@PoetAthletics)!
