WHITTIER, Calif. (Jan. 3, 2025) – The Whittier College women's basketball team rang in the new year with a statement performance, opening 2026 with a 65–57 victory over Occidental College Tigers on Saturday afternoon at Dave Jacobs Court. The win marked Whittier's first conference victory of the season and set the tone for the 13 remaining SCIAC matchups.
After a back-and-forth opening quarter, Whittier flipped the game in the second period with a dominant defensive stretch. The Poets held Occidental to just two points in the quarter, forcing tough looks and turnovers to swing momentum before halftime. Whittier carried that energy into the second half and saved its best offense for last, outscoring the Tigers 25–14 in the fourth quarter to close out the win.
Kennedy Perkins (Tehachapi, Calif. / Tehachapi) led all scorers with a career-high 22 points, marking her third 20-point outing of the season. Perkins attacked downhill all afternoon and was steady at the free-throw line, providing Whittier with a reliable scoring presence when it mattered most. Xochitl Hood (Whittier, Calif. / Troy / Fullerton College) followed with 14 points and seven rebounds, tying her NCAA career high on the glass and reaching double figures for the third time in the last four games.
Jadyn Patterson (San Jose, Calif. / Valley Christian / California State University, Stanislaus) delivered her best scoring performance of the season with 11 points while adding seven rebounds and five assists, continuing her strong all-around play in conference action. Brooklyn Giles (Fairfield, Calif. / Early College High School / California State University, Los Angeles) chipped in eight points and six rebounds, and Shushan Krikorian (McLean, Va. / McLean / Glendale College) orchestrated the offense with an NCAA career-high six assists while playing a team-high 37 minutes.
Whittier's ability to control the tempo and capitalize at the free-throw line proved decisive, as the Poets converted 21 free throws and turned defense into offense during key stretches in the second and fourth quarters.
With the win, Whittier improves to 6–5 overall and moves to 1–2 in SCIAC play. Head Coach Kristen Dowling and the Poets will continue conference action at home against the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens on Wednesday, January 7, at 7 p.m. at Dave Jacobs Court.
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