Whittier, Calif. - After defeating Whittier College, 90-71, the women's basketball team earned a split at the Purple and Gold Poet Classic, on December 29 and 30, at Whittier College. A day prior, the Golden Eagles dropped a 72-54 decision to the University of California – Santa Cruz.
The difference in the loss to the Banana Slugs, was a late first half run, in addition to a run midway through the second half. The Golden Eagles quickly erased a 34-27 lead by Santa Cruz, tying the score at 37-37, but the Banana Slugs quickly answered back and cruised to victory.
Tina Fantroy led the Golden Eagles in scoring with 15 points, joined by Afolake Akingba who notched a season-high 11 points while pulling down seven rebounds.
In Tuesday's win over the host institution, Whittier College, it was the Poets who jumped out to an early 12-3 lead, by connecting on their first four three-point attempts. But the Golden Eagles quickly answered with a 10-2 run, cutting the lead to 14-13. Midway through the first half, La Sierra caught the Poets at 17-17, and took their first lead, 21-20 at the 10:28 mark of the first half. It would be a lead they would never relinquish.
After taking a 46-39 lead into the halftime break, the Golden Eagles extended their lead to 60-47, just five minutes into the second half. The Poets weren't about to go away quietly as they put together a 17-6 run, cutting La Sierra's lead to 66-64. But that would be as close as things would get. As the Golden Eagles defense answered by holding the Poets to just seven points in the final 10:39 of the game, outscoring Whittier 24-7 in that span.
Tina Fantroy, who was named as the tournament's most valuable player, scored a season-high 44 points, while collecting 10 rebounds to complete the double-double. She connected on 12-of-22 shots, including 9-for-14 from the three-point line and 11-of-12 from the free throw line. Also scoring in double figures was Destiny Melton who finished with a double-double of her own, with 13 points and 13 rebounds.
Faith Fantroy nearly made it three double-doubles, finishing just shy of the mark, nevertheless notching an impressive nine assists and nine rebounds. Kailee Maeda also added nine points and seven assists in the victory.
The women's basketball team pushed their record to 4-8 on the season. With only two games remaining, until the start of the Cal Pac season schedule, La Sierra will travel to Westmont College this coming Friday afternoon to play the first of those two contests.
