Whittier, Calif. - The Pomona-Pitzer Women's Basketball team cut a 16-point Whittier lead in the second half down to four on two occasions, but the Poets were able to hang on down the stretch for a 71-61 win on Saturday evening.

The Sagehens were led by sophomore forward Basha Brulee-Wills (pictured), who had another big day with 19 points and 15 rebounds, but fall to 2-12 overall and 1-3 in the SCIAC with the loss. Whittier improves to 6-7 and 2-3 in league play. 

Pomona-Pitzer led by two at the half (31-29), but Whittier built a lead up to 58-42 and still led 60-44 with 6:30 to play. The Sagehens, though, stormed back to within 62-58 on a Brulee-Wills layup with 3:18 to go. Sophomores McKenna VanderKley and Kacie Hitomi each had four points during the 12-2 run. 

Priscilla Rodriguez stopped the run for the Poets with a layup, but Hitomi answered with 2:06 left to make the score 64-60. Whittier, though, shot 7-8 at the foul line down the stretch to seal it, as the Sagehens couldn't come any closer.

Sophomore guard Alaina Woo had 15 points for the Sagehens, while Hitomi had nine and VanderKley eight off the bench.  Rodriguez led Whittier with 17 points. 

Pomona-Pitzer is back in action on Wednesday when it hosts Redlands at 7:30 p.m.