WHITTIER, Calif. (Dec. 6, 2025) – The Whittier College women's basketball team went toe-to-toe with Claremont-Mudd-Scripps on Saturday afternoon, forcing overtime in a gritty, back-and-forth SCIAC matchup before ultimately falling 67–58 at Dave Jacobs Court. The Poets led by as many as 11 in the second quarter and controlled long stretches of the contest behind disciplined defense and balanced scoring.

Senior Brooklyn Giles (Fairfield, Calif. / Early College High School / Cal State Los Angeles) delivered one of the best performances of her NCAA career, recording her second double-double of the season with 11 points and an NCAA career-high 16 rebounds. Kennedy Perkins (Tehachapi, Calif. / Tehachapi) added 11 points and seven boards, while Yaneli Rosales Beltran (San Diego, Calif. / Mount Miguel) contributed eight points, five assists, and four rebounds in another steady two-way outing.

Shushan Krikorian (McLean, Va. / McLean / Glendale College) was the engine of Whittier's backcourt, playing all 45 minutes without committing a single foul, an incredibly rare feat, while posting 11 points and two assists. Senior guard Jadyn Patterson (San Jose, Calif. / Valley Christian / California State University, Stanislaus) scored six and knocked down a key three, and Alexia Valencia (Santa Ana, Calif. / Pacifica Christian / Rio Hondo College) added another six off the bench with timely long-range shooting.

Whittier moves to 3–4 overall and 0–2 in SCIAC play. Head Coach Kristen Dowling and the Poets will now turn their attention to the D3hoops.com Classic in Las Vegas, where they will face Bridgewater State University on Sunday, December 28th at 2 p.m.

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