WHITTIER, Calif. – The University of Redlands women's basketball team (5-7, 1-3) conceded a fourth quarter lead at Whittier College Saturday evening in a 59-56 overtime loss to the Poets.

Kayden Sanders and Colbi Zorich opened the game with the first five points as the Bulldogs got off to a 5-0 lead. AJ Wick then converted on a three-point play after an offensive rebound to make it 8-2 with 5:28 on the clock.

That lead was turned into a one-point deficit with 3:24 to go in the first after the Poets went on a 7-0 run. Wick would respond with a pair of jumpers with Carly Hicks picking up an assist as the two teams ended the quarter tied at 12.

Sanders started Redlands' scoring in the second with a three off an Aliyah Anderson assist to reclaim the lead, 15-14.

With a Whittier basket with 8:06 on the clock they would hold the lead or be tied until there was only 29 seconds remaining in the half when Anderson found Hicks for a three and what would be a 28-27 lead.

Redlands went back up by multiple possessions in the first two minutes of the second half as Anderson made two free throws following her offensive rebound and then Hicks scored after a Zorich steal to make it 32-27.

The rest of the third quarter the Bulldogs would hold a lead of seven three times, including to end the quarter when Wick found Zorich for a jump shot and a 43-36 lead.

It was a back-and-forth start to the fourth and with 5:25 remaining Hicks made a three that made it a six-point game, 48-42. For the Bulldogs, though, they would only score two more points in regulation and the Poets scored eight which forced overtime tied at 50.

In the five-minute overtime Whittier scored the first three points before Sanders made a pair of free throws and then Zorich also converted on her two to take a 54-53 lead with 2:10 to play. The Poets would only trail for 10 seconds and led for the final two minutes as the Bulldogs lost their first overtime game of the season.

Zorich and Wick continued their dominance inside and on the glass as Zorich had 20 points and 11 rebounds and Wick had 12 points and 13 rebounds.

The Bulldogs will stay on the road as they travel to Claremont on Wednesday, January 10 with a matchup with Pomona-Pitzer at 7:00 p.m.