LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Down all game, women's basketball battled to a late four-point lead but fell 67-63 on Wednesday January 29 in Rush Gym.
 
The Tigers trailed by 10 midway through the third, struggling to hit shots all night Oxy chipped away and broke through in the fourth. Megan Delgado hit three clutch threes down the stretch, the third giving the Tigers their first lead since 15-12 in the second quarter.
 
Michelle Lagunas-Monroy hit a couple of free throws to extend the Tiger lead, but a triple on the other end and a pair of free throws put the Poet lead at one. Another big triple from the Tigers, this time from Emily Ko marked the Tigers' final lead of the contest.
 
A tough loss at home for the Tigers gives Whittier a three-game lead in the conference standings as the Tigers remain in second halfway through the conference slate.
 
BY THE NUMBERS
Shooting 25% from the three-point line through three quarters, the Tigers got hot in the fourth, draining 4-of-8 from deep. Delgado picked up nine of her season-high 15 points on fourth quarter triples.
 
Paige Yasukochi notched her third 20-plus point performance in her last four games. The junior forward has emerged as the Tigers' most versatile scoring threat.
 
Lagunas-Monroy picked up her second double-double of the season, with 15 points and 13 rebounds. The senior eclipsed the 10 point per game mark with tonight's performance.
 
The Tigers held the conference's top scoring threat, Rhe Nae Leach, to 33% shooting, and forced the guard to surrender eight turnovers.
 
Oxy gave up 17 second chance points and 16 points off turnovers but notched only eight of their own in each category.
 
UP NEXT
The Tigers face another tough task on Saturday, facing Cal Lutheran on the road in a rematch of the SCIAC Championship a season ago. Tip off is slated for 5 p.m.