Poets Lose First SCIAC Game, Athenas Prevail in Overtime

Rosario Rios-Aguilar '08 posted season-highs with 25 points and 16 rebounds, but Whittier College fell short in overtime to Claremont-Mudd-Scripps, 65-59, in the Graham Athletics Center on January 17.  The loss ends a three-game winning streak and is the first SCIAC loss of the season for the Poets (6-7, 2-1).

Rios Aguilar scored all 13 of Whittier's points in the five-minute, overtime period.  She played 40 minutes, going 10-for-17 from the field with a pair of three-pointers, both in overtime.  She was the only Poet in double digits.  Marie Vodicska '11 scored nine points and Kourtney Zilbert '11 missed her fourth straight double-double with seven points and five rebounds.

The Athenas (2-11, 1-2) were led by Camille Sheffield with 15 points.  Cori Williams finished with 14 points.  Sarah Beattie and Jennifer Osgood scored eleven and ten points, respectively.  The pair also pulled down eight rebounds apiece.  Casey Reck score all eight of her points from the free throw line in overtime to seal the win for Claremont.

After conceding the first basket of the game to the Athenas, the Poets went on a 12-0 run in the first six minutes of the game.  Claremont fought back, chipping away at the Poet lead and tying the game at 17 with just over five minutes left in the half.  The teams battled back and forth for the remainder of the half, which ended with Claremont holding on to a 25-24 lead.  The Athenas shot nearly 41% in the half, while Whittier shot close to 36% percent.  Both teams finished the half with 16 rebounds and the Poets held a 9-5 edge in the turnover column.

The second half was a battle throughout.  The score was tied five times throughout the half and the largest lead was a five-point advantage for Claremont at the 18:22 mark.  Rios-Aguilar hit a free throw to brake a 45-45 tie with 2:40 left in the game.  One minute later, the Athenas pulled even again when Beattie hit one-of-two from the line.  Both teams had opportunities in the final minute, but neither could convert.  Sheffield narrowly missed a runner with six seconds left and the score remained 46-46 at the end of regulation.

Claremont put on a free throw shooting clinic in the overtime period, going 14-for-17 from the line.  They had just two field goals in the period, and 19 total points.  Rios-Aguilar was the only Poet to score in the period, and the Athenas took home the six-point victory. 

The Poets continue SCIAC play on January 19, when they travel to the University of La Verne.  Tip-off is scheduled for 5:00pm.