Whittier Whitt 15-9,9-6 SCIAC

Whitman Whitm 27-1,16-0 NWC

Whittier Whitt

15-9,9-6 SCIAC

Final

Mar. 04, 2022

Whitman Whitm

27-1,16-0 NWC

Score By Periods
Team	1	2	3	4	F
Whittier Whitt	23	11	7	16	57
Whitman Whitm	14	14	14	20	62

Summary
Box Score

Scott Burkhalter

Game Recap: Women's Basketball | 3/4/2022 8:41:00 PM

Women's Basketball Takes Down Whittier In NCAA First Round

ABILENE, Texas - Kaylie McCracken scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds, Korin Baker chipped in 12 points and 11 rebounds for a double double and the No. 6 Whitman College women's basketball team erased a double-digit first-half deficit to top Whittier College, 62-57, on Friday night in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Tournament.

The Blues (27-1) advanced in the NCAA Tournament for the second straight season and now face Trinity (TX) who took down host Hardin-Simmons in the opening game of the evening. Whitman and Trinity will square off on Saturday with a trip to next weekend's Sweet 16 on the line.

Sydney Abbott was her normal jack of all trades self, scoring nine points, grabbing eight rebounds and handing out a team-high six assists. Lindsay Drango and Kaelan Shamseldin both added 10 points.

The starters did the heavy lifting for the Poets. Two recorded double doubles led by Rhe Nae Leach's game high 22 points to go along with 11 boards.

The Blues found their stride in the second half but it was not without some early concern as they found themselves down double digits in the second quarter. Whitman trailed by nine points after the first quarter then saw the Poets extend to a 30-18 lead with seven minutes to play until halftime. Teani White hit back-to-back shots before Leach nailed a jumper to help their team to the 12-point lead.

After scratching and clawing, the Blues whittled the lead under 10 points after consecutive Drango scores. Meanwhile, Whitman's defense had come alive and held Whittier to without a field goal for the final 6:20 of the half. The Blues put together a much-needed 10-2 run during the period to make it a 34-28 score at halftime.

Whitman's defense re-emerged from the locker room and held Whittier to only seven points in the third quarter. The offense was there at the start as well, as the Blues opened the period on a 7-0 run. Abbott, Shamseldin and Baker all hit from the floor as Whitman grabbed its first lead since the early moments of the game. The Blues led by four points on two different occasions before taking a 42-41 lead into the final quarter.

Whitman never lost the lead in the final period and saw some timely buckets keep the Poets at bay. McCracken converted an and-one three-point play to push the lead to five points then, after Whittier had cut the lead to two points with on a Lanie James layup, Baker scored and got to the free throw line as well to push the lead back up to five with 4:14 to play. Whitman locked down defensively late in the game, holding the Poets to without a field goal for nearly four minutes late in the period.

The win gives the Blues their third straight NCAA Tournament victory after their COVID-shortened run in 2020. They will look for their second straight Sweet 16 appearance when they square off against Trinity tomorrow evening.

#GoWhitman

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