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Laura Mendell Arcadia 111625
Olivia Aitkin
48
Winner Amherst AMHERST 8-1
46
Whittier WHITTIER 5-5
Winner
Amherst AMHERST
8-1
48
Final
46
Whittier WHITTIER
5-5
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 F
Amherst AMHERST 11 16 10 11 48
Whittier WHITTIER 9 11 16 10 46

Game Recap: Women's Basketball |

#15 Mammoths Clinch Tight 48–46 Win Over Whittier

WHITTIER, CA —

The Amherst College women's basketball team closed out their West Coast trip with a hard-fought 48–46 victory over Whittier College on Wednesday afternoon. In a tightly contested, back-and-forth matchup that featured several lead changes in the fourth quarter, the Mammoths relied on sharp ball movement and disciplined defense to secure the two-point win and finish the calendar year on a high note.

GAME HIGHLIGHTS:

  • The first quarter featured a tight battle, with both teams exchanging baskets. By the end of the quarter, the Mammoths held a narrow 11–9 lead.

  • Despite facing high-pressure full-court defense from the Poets in the second quarter, Amherst stayed composed. The Mammoths capitalized in transition, pushing the pace and beating Whittier down the floor to extend their lead to 27–20 heading into halftime.

  • Whittier responded in the third quarter, knocking down two key three-pointers midway through the period to take a brief 32–31 lead. The teams continued to trade baskets down the stretch, with Amherst reclaiming a 37–36 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

  • The final minutes featured dramatic swings on both ends of the floor. Trailing 44–43 with just over two and a half minutes remaining, Amherst guard Anna Tranum hit a clutch jumper to give the Mammoths a 45–44 lead. Moments later, Annie McCarthy attacked the lane and converted a key floater to extend Amherst's lead to 47–44 with just 1:16 remaining.

  • Whittier answered at the free-throw line a few possessions later to cut the deficit to 47–46 with just 11 seconds left. However, a series of fouls from the Poets then sent Laura Mendell to the line, where she calmly knocked down one free throw to make it 48–46. 

  • On the final possession, Amherst's tight defense prevented Whittier from getting a shot off, allowing the Mammoths to clinch the 48–46 victory.

BY THE NUMBERS:

  • Both teams shot well from the free-throw line, with Amherst going 9-for-11 (81.8%) and Whittier finishing 16-for-18 (88.9%).

  • The Mammoths dominated the glass, out-rebounding the Poets 41–27.

  • Amherst outshot Whittier from beyond the arc, shooting 37.5% compared to Whittier's 26.7%.

UP NEXT:

  • The victory sends Amherst into the new year with an 8–1 overall record.

  • The Mammoths will return home to Amherst to open 2026 on Saturday, January 3rd, when they host Emerson College at 3 p.m. in LeFrak Gymnasium.

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