Women's Basketball Picks Up Big Overtime Win, Mascoto '07 Finishes with Double-Double

Michelle Mascoto '07 had her fifth double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds to lead Whittier College to a 67-65 overtime win over California Lutheran University in Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference action at Graham Athletics Center on February 3.  The Poets are now 9-9 overall and 3-5 in SCIAC play.

Mascoto was just three assists away from a triple-double with seven and also had four steals.  Rosario Rios-Aguilar '08 added 16 points, six assists and four steals.  Megan Wingo '07 pulled down ten rebounds to go along with eight points. 

The Poets jumped out to an early lead in the first half, going up by as many as 14 with 10:50 left in the half after a 12-2 run.  Whittier held a 32-22 advantage at the break.  The Regals (9-9, 5-3 SCIAC) chipped away at the Poets' lead shooting 46 percent in the second half and eventually tied the game at 51 with 5:37 remaining.  The lead changed hands four more times, and with 17 seconds left, two free throws from the Regals tied the score at 58.  In overtime with the Poets down by one, Mascoto hit a three-pointer that gave Whittier the lead for good.  She scored four points in the extra stanza as the Poets outscored Cal Lutheran 9-7 to take the victory.