PASADENA, Calif. (Jan. 24, 2026) – The Whittier College women's basketball team delivered its most efficient shooting performance of the season Saturday afternoon, earning a 70–57 SCIAC road victory over Caltech at the Braun Athletic Center. The win marked Whittier's highest-scoring conference game of the year and showcased the Poets' balance, execution, and depth.
Whittier set the tone early, shooting over 60 percent in the opening quarter and building an early lead through crisp ball movement and strong interior play. The Poets maintained control through the first half and came out of the locker room with one of their best stretches of the season, scoring 21 points in the third quarter while shooting over 50 percent from the field to separate themselves.
For the game, Whittier finished shooting an impressive 54 percent from the floor, its best mark of the season, while scoring 40 points in the paint and consistently creating high-quality looks on the offensive end.
Kennedy Perkins (Tehachapi, Calif. / Tehachapi) led the way with a dominant all-around performance, pouring in a career-high 25 points on 10-of-14 shooting. Perkins also recorded her third double-double of the season with 10 rebounds and added three blocks and three steals, anchoring both ends of the floor in a standout showing.
Brooklyn Giles (Fairfield, Calif. / Early College High School / California State University, Los Angeles) followed with 15 points on an ultra-efficient 7-of-8 shooting performance, marking her highest scoring output in conference play this season. Freshman Helen Rosales Beltran (San Diego, Calif. / Lincoln) turned in a strong outing of her own, finishing with a career-high seven points, and a career-high four rebounds while shooting a perfect 3-for-3 from the field. Delaney Castagna (Carmel, Calif. / Carmel / Arizona Christian University) added six points and six rebounds to help control the glass, and Whittier received contributions across the lineup as multiple players stepped in during the fourth quarter to close out the road win.
Whittier moves to 8–9 overall and improves to 3–6 in SCIAC play. Head Coach Kristen Dowling and the Poets will return home to Dave Jacobs Court on Wednesday, January 28, as they host the receiving-votes California Lutheran Regals at 7 p.m.
