LA VERNE, Calif. — Emily Myers notched another double-double and Kayla Chism had her best game of the season but the University La Verne women's basketball team fell, 72-62, to Whittier on Saturday at Sports Science and Athletic Pavilion.
La Verne falls to 3-16 overall and 2-9 in SCIAC play. Whittier improves to 6-14 and 3-8.
The Leopards found themselves in an early 15-4 hole, but rallied with an 8-2 run close the gap to 17-12 at the end of the first quarter.
The Leopards stayed within range most of the game and used a 9-3 burst aided by five points from Shannon Irwin to grab a 41-40 lead—first since early in the first quarter—with 2:54 left in the third quarter. But the lead did not last long as Whittier rattled off three unanswered baskets to reclaim the lead and took a 51-48 lead going into the final quarter.
The Poets pulled away early in the fourth as Amia Thrash made a pair of layups and Carly Buechler made a three to open up a 58-48 lead and La Verne never got closer.
Myers finished with 18 points and 11 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season.
Chism, who has been hampered by an injury all season, recorded a season-high 10 points and grabbed six rebounds. Irwin chipped in 13 points and three rebounds.
Thrash led all players with 26 points for Whittier. Buechler sank four 3-pointers and finished with 17 points and nine rebounds.
La Verne returns to action on Tuesday at home against Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.