Claremont, Calif. - Basha Brulee-Wills closed out her sophomore season with a career-high 32 points to go along with 12 rebounds to lead a Pomona-Pitzer comeback from a 20-point second-half deficit, but it wasn't quite enough as Whittier held on for a 79-72 win in the season finale for both teams on Tuesday night.
Brulee-Wills ended her campaign with 13 double-doubles in 16 conference games, as Pomona-Pitzer ends 6-19 overall and 5-11 in conference play. Whittier closes at 12-12 overall and 8-8 in the league.
Whittier used a second half run to turn a 32-26 lead at the half into a 20-point lead at 59-39 with 10:41 to go. However, the Sagehens refused to give in, and got the lead down to single digits with 5:14 left on a three-pointer from freshman Hannah Green.
A lay-up from McKenna VanderKley and a jump shot in the paint from Brulee-Wills got it down to a one-possession game at 68-65 with 2:23 to go. After the teams exchanged free throws on the next two possessions, Dannika Navalez-Lugt had the big shot of the game, burying a three-pointer with the shot clock winding down to push the lead to six with 35 seconds left. Hayley Pienton hit a three-pointer for the Sagehens with nine seconds left to close the lead to 77-72, but Whittier hit its final two foul shots to seal the win.
Navalez-Lugt had a team-high 18 points for Whittier, while Erica Houston had 12 points and 18 rebounds off the bench for the Poets.
Brulee-Wills finished the year averaging 18.4 points and 11.2 rebounds in SCIAC games, tops in the conference in both categories. Her 32 points against Whittier eclipsed her previous high of 26, set earlier this season against Occidental.
Pomona-Pitzer returns its entire team next year as it will look to make a push for a SCIAC Tournament bid.