WHITTIER, Calif. (Oct. 22, 2025) – Head Coach Kristen Dowling of the Whittier College women's basketball team has announced her 2025-26 recruiting class, which includes 11 newcomers, broken up by three first years and eight transfers.
The women's basketball team is coming off the best season in program history, posting a 21-5, 14-2 SCIAC record, being crowned the 2024-25 SCIAC Regular Season Champions.
"We lost a lot from a very successful team so needed to add players who enhance our team culture but also can have an immediate impact on the court," Dowling said. "With the help of many people in the Whittier College Community, we have recruited spectacular and talented young women. They are high character, talented and experienced student-athletes. Most importantly, all of them are great teammates. We know we are only as good as our players and we believe we have some excellent players."
Here's a look at the 2025-26 Whittier College women's basketball incoming class:
Bella Blum | 5'9" – El Camino College
Blum averaged 17.1 PPG and 7.4 RPG at El Camino College in 2024-25. She once hit eight three-pointers in a single game en route to 38 points. She spreads the floor with her shooting, is very hard working and is a great teammate. Blum graduated from Mira Costa High School and is from Manhattan Beach, Calif. She is majoring in Child Development with a desire to work with children in the classroom.
"Bella has a great desire to learn and get better at everything she does on and off the court," Dowling said. "On the court, she is a flat-out shooter who stretches the floor. She adds great length on the defensive end as she can defend multiple positions. Bella is a great addition to our Program."
Jayden Borgna | 5'4" – City College of San Francisco
Jayden played two years at the successful City College of San Francisco women's basketball program. She averaged 5.9 PPG for CCSF while starting 18 games for a team that went 19-9 and appeared in the second round of the 3C2A Northern California Regional Playoffs. Jayden is getting her degree in the Whittier Scholars Program and wants to work in Sports Journalism. Jayden graduated from Ukiah High School in Ukiah, Calif.
"Jayden is coachable, works hard, is a great teammate, and already very involved in the Whittier College community," Dowling said. "Like a true point guard, Jayden is always engaged, wants to understand things from a coach's perspective, and is a great communicator with her teammates. Jayden is a great addition to our program and Whittier College."
Delaney Castagana | 5'11" – Arizona Christian University
Castagna played last season at NAIA Arizona Christian University. Delaney graduated from Carmel High School in Carmel, Calif. In high school, Castagna was named MVP and All County while averaging 11 PPG and 9 RPG. She is getting her degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance and wants to work in law.
"Delaney adds great size to our team," Dowling said. "She is a long rim protector and also very coachable with a.desire to get better. We are thankful she chose Whittier College to finish her career athletic and academic career."
Xochitl Hood | 5'11" – Fullerton College
Hood was an impressive two-time All-League Player at Fullerton College. She averaged 13.5 PPG and 8.7 RPG and led Fullerton College to a 3C2A Southern California Playoff Appearance each of the past two years with a 19-11 record last year. Hood graduated from Troy High School in Fullerton, Calif. She is majoring in Philosophy and aspires to be a college professor.
"Xochitl is the epitome of scholar-baller," Dowling said. "She is very passionate about her academics and also being a great basketball player. Xochitl will be a leader for our team on and off the court as she plays hard, can score the ball and is hard to stop on the glass. She is a great addition to Whittier College women's basketball and the Whittier College community."
Brooklyn Giles | 5'9" – Cal State Los Angeles
Brooklyn was part of an NCAA Division II team that went 18-10 and advanced to the NCAA Tournament. Prior to CSULA, Brooklyn averaged 18.9 PPG at Napa Valley College and earned All-League honors both seasons. Brooklyn was named 3rd team 3C2A All-State in 2023-2024. Brooklyn graduated from Rodriguez High School in Fairfield, Calif. and is Majoring in Business Administration as she wants to work in the Social Media side of Business.
"We are fortunate that Brooklyn chose to finish her career at Whittier College," Dowling said. "She has great experience and brings lots of maturity to our team. Brooklyn is a long scorer and a consistent rebounder with a quick first step. She is a great addition to our team."
Keahi (KK) Guy | 5'7" – Mission College Preparatory Catholic High School
KK Guy was the starting guard on a Mission Prep team that qualified for the CIF Central Section Playoffs. As a senior, she averaged 10.2 PPG and 3.2 APG. Guy was also named All-County Offensive Player of the Year as a Senior and League MVP as a Junior. She is majoring in Kinesology and wants to work in athletics.
"KK is a great addition to our program," Dowling said. "She is a high-IQ Player who stretched the defense with her shooting ability. She is a scorer who is incredibly coachable, we love the way she thinks about the game and are excited to add her to our squad."
Shushan Krikorian | 5'9" – Glendale College
Krikorian averaged 9.6 PPG while shooting 44.6% from the field en route to being named Honorable Mention All-WSC South. She was instrumental in helping Glendale College win the WSC South League and advance to the 3C2A State Semi-Finals with a 26-5 overall record. Krikorian graduated from McLean High School in McLean, Va. She is majoring in psychology and wants to work in sports.
"Shushan is long, athletic and can score the ball," Dowling said. "She is one of the hardest workers I've seen. Shushan stretches the floor, is sneaky athletic, and also has a high basketball IQ. Shushan will be a leader for our team on and off the court and should be considered a big addition to what we'll do."
Lanakila Nitta | 5'8" – Kamehameha School
Nitta graduated from the prestigious Kamehameha Schools in Hawaii. In high school, Lanakila played four years of basketball and played club basketball with 808 and Westside Hoops. She was named to the Maui Invitational All Tournament Team. Nitta is getting her degree in psychology.
"Lanakila is the silent assassin," Dowling said. "I believe athletically her best days are ahead of her. She is long, sneaky athletic, and I am confident will only get better with time. She comes from a great school academically and athletically in Hawaii where she was challenged on and off the court every day. Lanakila is a great teammate and brings the Ohana spirit to our program."
Jadyn Patterson | 5'5" – Stanislaus State
Patterson started 13 games for the NCAA Division II Warriors, averaging 30 minutes per game. Jadyn had a season-high of 22 points against Fresno Pacific and eight assists against CSULA. Prior to Stanislaus State, Jadyn graduated from Valley Christian High School in San Jose. Jadyn is majoring in Graphic Design and wants to work in the Digital Media or the fashion world.
"Jadyn plays hard, is always locked in, and very competitive," Dowling said. "Jadyn wants to win; she is crafty offensively and has a dog mentality on defense that is contagious. Jadyn is also very creative and passionate about her work in the social media world. We are very fortunate that Jadyn chose to finish her career as a Poet."
Helen Rosales Beltran | 5'8" – Lincoln High School
Helen Rosales-Beltran, the younger sister of returning junior point guard Yaneli Rosales Beltran, graduated from Lincoln High School in San Diego. She averaged 9.9 PPG for Lincoln on a team that was 17-10 and finished ranked in the Top 5 of San Diego County. Helen was one of the top three-point shooters in the County at 35%. Rosales Beltran is getting her degree in Political Science and Spanish and wants to pursue something in law.
"Helen can shoot the ball from deep," Dowling said. "She is also very coachable, a great teammate, and plays hard. Not only is Helen a good player, she is a great culture fit for our team and college. We are really excited she chose Whittier College as her home."
Alexia Valencia | 5'4" – Rio Hondo College
Valencia was regarded as one of the top shooters in the South Coast Conference as she earned first-team All-SCC North Division honors by averaging 13.4 points per game. She led the SCC with 88 three-pointers and tied the Rio Hondo single-game record by making 11 three-point field goals. Alexia was named the 2024-25 Rio Hondo College Student-Athlete of the Year. She graduated from Pacifica Christian High School and wants to work in Forensics Science.
"Alexia is a knock down shooter," Dowling said. "She may be small but she is mighty. She has great quickness on the defensive end. Alexia is very coachable, hard working and a great teammate. We are excited to add Alexia to our program and Whittier College."
Along with an incredibly talented incoming class, Whittier is also excited to return three veteran players from the SCIAC Regular Season Championship team in 2024-25. Yaneli Rosales Beltran started 23 games for the Poets and had 83 assists on the season as an emerging point guard as well as an emerging leader. She played the full 40 minutes on several occasions and had a season high of 11 assists vs Redlands.
Returning sophomore Kennedy Perkins came on strong down the stretch of the season during her rookie year. She started 19 games and averaged five points and rebounds per game. Perkins, like Rosales Beltran, is an emerging leader for the Poets and will be looked as a key vocal presence on and off the court.
The Poets also return Sophomore guard Natalia Apacible. The sophomore is a hard worker, with great energy who is also a great teammate. Additionally, Dowling will return Head Coach Lizzie Scriven '23 under the Women's Sports Foundation's Vanderveer Coaching Grant, and also add veteran coaches Chris Furukawa and Tamara McDonald to her bench.
Dowling and the Poets will open the 2025-26 season at home against Pacific Lutheran on Nov. 7.
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