BOX SCORE

WHITTIER, Calif. - Senior Tayler Wang was named the Purple & Gold Tournament Most Valuable Player after helping guide the Lewis & Clark women's basketball team to an 81-60 victory over Whittier College. Freshman Ayisat Afolabi was also named to the All-Tournament Team.

The Pioneers improve to 5-4 on the season as they gear up to start Northwest Conference action this weekend. The Poets are still in search of their first win of the year as they slip to 0-10.

Afolabi led all players with 18 points, scoring the majority of her points from the free-throw line where she finished 10-of-12. Wang was the Pioneers next leading scorer with 16 points, while senior Katie Anderson logged the games only double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

Anderson also ended the contest with a game-high eight rebounds and two steals. Afolabi also had two steals to go with her game-high two blocks. 

Priscilla Rodriguez led the Poets with 17 points, while Erica Houston pulled down a team-high nine boards.

Daron Dean put the Pioneers up 2-0 a minute into the game, sparking a 7-0 run by L&C. With half of the period gone, Wang gave the Pioneers a 23-11 advantage with a three pointer assisted by Kathlene Howe.

Back-to-back Afolabi free-throws with 1:20 until halftime put the Pioneers ahead 42-23. Margo Campos hit the final basket of the half to cut the Poet deficit to 42-25.

Lewis & Clark kept rolling in the second half. Afolabi handed the Pioneers their largest lead of the game at the 12:58 mark. Afolabi came down with an offensive rebound that she laid into the basket, increasing the Pioneer advantage to 61-34. The Poets continued to fight but the Pioneers never let them back into the contest, pulling out the 81-60 win.

Lewis & Clark travel to Puget Sound on Friday, Jan. 3 for the start of NWC play. Tip-off is set for 6 p.m.