CLAREMONT, Ca. – The Sagehens dropped a conference tilt against the Whittier Poets 65-45. Pomona-Pitzer was the first to record a bucket after Madison Quan opened the game with a three-point shot. The Sagehens went into the half trailing 28-21 and fought to as close as one early in the third half but the Poets' offense was relentless. Whittier pushed their lead to as much 21 and ended the game with the 65-45 advantage. 

The team's combined for a total of 42 turnovers with the Sagehens recording 22 to the Poets' 20. On the night, the Sagehens shot 33.3% from the field and 29.4% from beyond the arc. 

With the loss, Pomona-Pitzer is now 14-10 overall and 9-7 in the conference, giving them the No. 4 seed heading into the conference tournament.

Slow Start

The Sagehens struck first with a three-pointer from Madison Quan, taking a 3-0 lead 46 seconds into the game. The Poets took control of the quarter with a 6-0 run that lasted just over three minutes before Kaitlyn Leung drained a shot from downtown to tie the game 6-6 with 5:25 remaining in the first quarter. The two teams traded shots to knot things up at 8-8 just over two minutes later. Whittier closed out the quarter on a 7-1 run, entering the second quarter with a 15-9 lead and momentum on their side. 

Up and Down Battle 

The Poets' offense didn't waste any time in the second quarter, hitting a jumper just six seconds after the whistle to extend their lead to 17-9. The Sagehens responded promptly with a 6-0 in just one minute and 16 seconds of play, cutting the Poets' lead to 17-15 with 8:07 left in the half. Both teams traded turnovers for a scoreless two minutes and 23 seconds before the Poets' Bella Robles made a layup to make it 19-15 in favor of Whittier. 

Whittier extended their lead to six with two free throws, but Cameron Edward made both of her attempts from the charity stripe to keep the Poets' lead at four at 21-17 with 2:54 on the clock.  

In the closing minutes of the half, the Poets extended their lead to as much as nine but the Sagehens' Amara Chidom hit two free throws right before the half expired to send Pomona-Pitzer into the half trailing 28-21.

Quick Spark

Coming out of the halftime break, the Sagehens got right to work as Renae Tamura, Emily Church, and Madison Quan all chimed in two pull the team within one at 28-27. 

Fading Away

After the Sagehens closed in on the Poets' lead, Whittier battled back to take a six-point lead with 6:09 left in the third quarter. Kaitlyn Leung hushed the Poets' offense with a three to make it 33-30 but Whittier was relentless on the attack. The Poets ballooned their lead to 12 by the end of the third quarter, holding a 42-30 edge over the Sagehens. 

Whittier recorded the first six points of the fourth quarter to take a 48-30 lead over the Sagehens. The Poets continued to attack increasing their lead to as much as 21 in the final minutes of the game. Charlize Andaya drilled a three with 27 seconds on the clock but the Sagehens efforts fell short as they dropped the contest 65-45.

What's Up Next

The Sagehens are now 14-10 on the season and 9-6 in the conference. Pomona-Pitzer will end the regular season this Saturday at 7:00 p.m. when they host Occidental College.