LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Jan. 9, 2010) - The visiting Poets
came in and executed a great game plan in the opening half tonight,
knocking the Tigers on its heels, while opening up a double digit
lead. Oxy responded, and by late in the second half had a
comfortable lead and control of the game, seemingly on their way to
a conference victory. Whittier had other ideas, finishing on
a 14-2 run, to stun the Tigers and escape with a huge victory on
the road.
The Poets sprinted out to a 24-12 lead before the Tigers began
to find their rhythm. Oxy then began to spread the ball
around, as five players contributed to a 16-4 run, capped by a
three point play by Makenzie Brandon. Which
tied the score at 28, but then back to back jumpers by
Gillian Nugent propelled the Tigers to their
largest lead of the half. Both teams traded baskets, and it
looked like Stephanie Babij's turnaround jumper
would send both teams into the locker rooms deadlocked at 36, but
the Poets raced down the court and scored in less than four seconds
to take a two point advantage into the locker room on a buzzer
beater.
The second half was a tight game, as Whittier held a slim lead
throughout the first seven minutes, until a three by Nugent allowed
Oxy to take only its second lead of the game. Occidental then
began to find its chinks in the Poets defense, as Brandon,
Dior Williams and Britinee
Yasukochi began driving and feeding each other.
Their mid range game flourished, and with a little over three
minutes to play Oxy had the ball and a six point lead, in control
of the game. But it wasn't to be as the Tigers began to
unravel, accounting for three turnovers and zero field goals over
the final three minutes. The Poets sealed the game going six
for eight from the line, handing the Tigers their first regular
season home conference loss since January 19th, 2008,
when Redlands knocked off Oxy 56-55.
An evenly matched game statistically, saw both teams shoot an
identical 28-68 from the field. Both squads also had four
players in double figures, leading the Tigers with a game high 19
was Brandon, followed by Williams' 11 and 10 apiece for Yasukochi
and Babij. Babij also led all players with 12 rebounds, while
Whittier was led by Brittany Aranda's 18 points and Tina Merlino's
12 points and 11 rebounds.
Oxy will have a few days to regroup before facing CMS at home on
Thursday, January 14th. Tipoff is at 7:30 pm.
