Poets fall short in comeback effort, lose 62-56 to C-M-S

C-M-S, issue 15, Joshua De Bets, Women's Basketball, Sports - By Joshua De Bets on Thursday, January 26, 2012 - 01:34

The Whittier College Women’s Basketball Team fell short of a late comeback victory against the Athenas of Claremont-M-S losing 62-56. Despite shooting a season-high 93 percent from the free throw line, the Poets had no answer for Claremont’s inside game. Whittier fell to 5-12, 2-4 in SCIAC.

The Poets erased a 15-point deficit with a 13-5 run over a five minute stretch and looked poised to upset the Athenas. They shortened the lead to 1 with 2:48 left in the game, but faltered late and could not come away with the victory.

The Purple and Gold had their chances to take the lead as senior guard Brittany Aranda got the Poets within 1 with 2:39 remaining in the game and first-year guard Dannika Navales-Lugtu got the Poets within 3 with 14 seconds remaining, but clutch free throws down the stretch by Claremont put the game out of reach for Whittier.

Navales-Lugtu lead the Poets in scoring with 17 points and made three of four 3-pointers. Junior forward Alex Coon had 15 points of her own on 7 of 15 shooting, as Aranda finished with 11 points.

Coming off her SCIAC Woman Athlete of the Week honor, Claremont-M-S forward Frannie Hemmelgarn led all scorers with 18 points and was dominant inside the paint going 7 of 12 for shooting.

The Poets had the advantage in free throw percentage, 3-point shots and shot 40 percent overall for the game. There were 26 turnovers overall, 11 for Whittier and 15 for C-M-S, but Whittier converted those turnovers into 20 points.
The Purple and Gold return to the court on Thursday, Jan. 26 on the road against the University of La Verne Leopards beginning at 7:30 p.m.