REDLANDS, Calif. – The University of Redlands Women's Basketball team had their lowest offensive production of the season Wednesday night in a 43-40 loss to Whittier College inside Currier Gym.
The Maroon and Grey drop now to 13-4, 9-2 SCIAC, but still hold onto the top spot within the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) standings.
It was a physical match-up all night proving to be a defensive battle as both teams were held below their average. Two players on each team recorded double figures. Alyssa Downs (South San Francisco, CA) led the Bulldogs with 14 points on 4-of-8 shooting, knocking down four triples. Julia Balestreri (Pleasanton, CA) came off the bench to provide 10 points on 2-of-5 shooting and nine rebounds, while Hannah Jerrier (Canton, MA), Angelina Roque (San Diego, CA), Chyanne Pagkalinawan (Valencia, CA), and Jordan Smith (Tustin, CA) combined for another 16 points. Jerrier also added 12 boards and a pair of blocks.
Redlands found themselves trailing by two after the opening quarter 16-14, despite Downs knocking down two big three-pointers in the period. In the 2nd, UR made some adjustments putting up another 11 points, while holding WC to just single digits. During the ten minutes Balestreri tacked on four off the bench and the Bulldogs finished the quarter off on a 6-2 run thanks to a three-pointer from Downs, a Jerrier layup and a free-throw from Balestreri that gave them a 25-24 lead at intermission.
Downs added two quick free throws out of the half to extend the lead to three, but five in a row by the Poets' Teani White, which sparked a 9-2 run would swing the momentum putting WC on top 33-29. Balestreri was able to help weather the storm converting a layup and two free throws tying things up, but a late three-ball from Lainie James would give Whittier a 36-33 advantage after three periods.
It was a low scoring 4th Quarter with a combined 14 points being scored, seven coming from each team. The teams swapped layups early and Downs picked up a triple to tie the game up at 38-38. But over the final 5:34 the Bulldogs would get outscored 5-2, being held scoreless over the final five minutes of the game allowing Whittier to come away with the win.
The Bulldogs shot just 26.5% from the field, 27.3% from three-point territory, and 88.9% from the free-throw line. They held the edge by one on the glass 34-33, but were outscored in the paint 24-14 and turned the ball over 17 times giving Whittier another 10 points.
Redlands returns to action this Saturday, February 5 when they travel to Orange County to take on Chapman University beginning at 4:00pm.