WHITTIER, Calif. -- The Loggers take down the Poets in the first game of their California road trip, defeating the Poets 54-51.

How it Happened
The Loggers got off to a quick start, as Carmen Cruz knocked down a three to get the game going. The teams went back and forth, as Savannah Pohl knocked down a couple of layups to make it 11-10 Loggers. Whittier struck back, going on a short run to go ahead 18-14 at the first quarter break. 

Puget Sound started to come back, as Autumn Hill knocked down a layup to tie the game at 20 apiece. A Pohl layup extended the lead to four, but the Poets got the final laugh of the half. They went on another little run, and the Loggers found themselves down two at the break. 

The third quarter was back and forth yet again, as Natalia Sefair-Lopez made a pair of free throws to give the Loggers a 34-32 lead. Defense was the name of the game in the third quarter, as both teams kept making great stops. A Cruz jumper made it 39-41 at the end of the third, setting up a wild finish in the fourth. 

Pohl kept up her hot streak, knocking down back-to-back layups to start the fourth quarter. The Poets pulled it back, tying up the game with 6:12 left in the fourth. Cruz knocked down a three to put the Loggers back up, making another layup to keep the Loggers ahead with 2:53 remaining. Whittier bounced back to make it 52-51, but the Loggers held strong. A defensive stop to end it, and two final free throws by Cruz capped off a fantastic 54-51 win. 

Top Performers
Cruz had a career night, finishing with 23 points, 5 rebounds, going 5-8 from beyond the arc. Pohl also finished in double digits with 12, leading the team with three steals. 

What Happens Next 
The Loggers take Thanksgiving off before heading to Chapman on Friday, November 28th. Tipoff is scheduled for 5:00 pm.