Poets Off to Best Conference Start Since 2000-01, Zilbert Stays Hot With Third Straight Double-Double

Kourtney Zilbert '11 recorded another double-double to lead Whittier College to a 62-54 victory over Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference rival, California Lutheran University in the Graham Athletics Center on January 12.  The Poets even their record at 6-6 and, for the first time since the 2000-01 season, start conference play with a 2-0 record.

Zilbert finished with 17 points and 12 rebounds for her third straight double-double.  Nine of her rebounds came on the offensive end.  She also led the Poet defense with five steals.  Morgan Sabala '11 scored a career-high 14 points, including four three-pointers.  Christa Rainville '08 came off the bench to score eleven points and grab five rebounds.  Rosario Rios-Aguilar '08 had a game-high 13 rebounds. 

The Regals were led by Mary Placido who scored a game-high 29 points.  She was 10-for-19 from the field and hit three shots from beyond the arc.  She also pulled down eight rebounds.  Maggie Neville finished with seven points and six rebounds.

The Poets shot 38% from the field in the first half on their way to a 35-31 lead at the break.  Whittier only made six field goals in the second half, but the defense picked up the slack.  They forced 19 Cal Lutheran turnovers in the game.  Whittier took care of the ball, committing just 14 turnovers.  They also finished with a 50-43 advantage on the glass.  Down the stretch, the Poets made their free throws to close the game, making 14-of-18 from the charity stripe in the second half.

The Poets continue SCIAC play on January 17, when they take on Claremont-Mudd-Scripps.  The game begins at 7:30pm in the Graham Athletics Center.