Merlino nabs SCIAC Athlete of the Week honors

Photo by: Tracy Maple

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Junior forward Tina Merlino became the eighth Whittier College student-athlete of the year to earn Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Athlete of the Week honors when she recorded a pair of double-doubles for the week ending January 20.

Merlino currently leads the Poets in points per game (11.4) and rebounds per game (8.5) and is shooting a conference best 60 percent from the field.

In Whittier's two games for the weekend of January 13, the Jamul, Calif., native totaled 36 points and 30 rebounds. Merlino scored 17 points and had 11 boards in an overtime loss at Pomona-Pitzer on January 14 and put together a 19-point, 19-rebound, effort in a 77-65 win over La Verne on January 16.

She also ranks first on the team in blocks (16) and is tied for third on the team in steals (31).

Merlino joins Paul Schilling (football), Chelsa Irha (women's soccer), Adolfo Santos (men's soccer), Gina-Marie DiPierro (women's soccer), Casey Regehr (men's water polo), Alex Perry (men's water polo) and DaMon Perry (men's basketball) as SCIAC Athletes of the Week.