WHITTIER, Calif. (Feb. 8, 2025) – A strong team defensive performance saw the Whittier College women's basketball team hold off Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges in a low-scoring affair on Saturday afternoon. The Poets defeated the Athenas, 49-47, in a game that felt very similar to the two teams' previous meeting in Claremont at the end of last year.
The visitors brought a physical tone to Saturday's game from the onset, and the Poets had no problem matching that physicality themselves. After all, they were able to hold the Athenas without a double-digit scorer, with Saturday being the first time they have been able to do so this season. On the flipside, senior guard
Rhe Nae Leach (Moreno Valley, Calif. / John W. North) came up huge for the Poets with 22 points while she kept the CMS offense in check for the game's duration. The offensive efficiency numbers indicated a close game between the Poets and Athenas -- and that it was. However, one area where Whittier was able to win decisively was on the offensive glass -- they outrebounded CMS at a near 2:1 clip.
Whittier's top rebounders were seniors
Faith Boulanger (Burbank, Calif. / John Burroughs / Glendale CC | Cal State San Bernardino) and
Lorita Salloom (Santa Clarita, Calif. / Saugus / College of the Canyons). The frontcourt duo combined to lead all players with nine rebounds apiece, while Leach pulled down eight rebounds and freshman forward
Kennedy Perkins (Tehachapi, Calif. / Tehachapi) came up with seven. The collective effort from the Poets' starters has become a pattern for the team in recent games with each player handling their role to a tee. Sophomore point guard
Yaneli Rosales (San Diego, Calif. / Mount Miguel) was no exception, as she led all players with six assists on 19 team field goals.
The physical nature of Saturday's game provided little room for the Poets to build a cushion for themselves. As a result, it became quickly imperative throughout the second half they would have to be the better team in the game's final minutes, regardless of score. Sure enough, the Poets held to form over the game's final eight minutes when the Athenas got within two points. Whittier held serve, and while the Athenas had a change to win or tie the game on the game's final possession, Rosales came up big when she anticipated the offensive player off a CMS rebound to take possession back for the Poets as time expired. The win moves Whittier to 12-0 in SCIAC play.
Head Coach Kristen Dowling and the Poets have seen their magic number to clinch the SCIAC regular season championship drop to one following Saturday's results. The Poets will have an opportunity to clinch home court advantage in the SCIAC Women's Basketball Tournament when they host Chapman University on Wednesday, Feb. 12 at 7 p.m.
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