After honoring its seniors prior to the start of the game, the University of Redlands women's basketball team provided a celebratory send-off with a 74-55 victory over the visiting Poets of Whittier College. Despite a physical and scrappy competition, the Bulldogs held the lead for most of the game but really unleashed their offense late in the second half to earn the solid Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) win.

Following a five-point halftime lead, the Maroon and Gray erupted with an 11-2 run to start the second period, resulting in a 14-point advantage.

Although the Poets made it a four-point game with just over eight minutes to play, the Bulldogs took over on offense with a 26-point outburst en route to the 74-55 win.

The Bulldog seniors enjoyed a stellar final home showing of the regular season. Senior Ali Bueno (San Jose, CA) knocked down six three-pointers for 18 points. Senior forward Meghan Yetman (Danville, CA) contributed 14 points on 5-for-8 shooting to go along with nine rebounds and three assists.

In addition, sophomore Courtney Carroll (Rancho Palos Verdes, CA) tossed in 20 points, 10 rebounds and two assists. Junior guard Mariah Barbetti-Cort (Ventura, CA) was three assists away from a triple-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists. Junior forward Mackenzie Smith (Hoquiam, WA) netted three blocks and four boards.

The Poets (13-10, 6-6 SCIAC) gained double-digits from three players, with junior forward Kourtney Zilbert (Burbank, CA) and junior guard Morgan Sabala (San Diego, CA) providing 11 apiece, and junior forward Tina Merlino (Jamul, CA) chipping in 10 points.

Redlands (18-5, 10-2 SCIAC) remains in a two-way tie for second place in the conference and looks forward to facing its counterpart, Cal Lutheran University, on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. in Thousand Oaks.