BOX SCORE

JACKSON, Tenn. --- Biola fought back from a late double-digit deficit, but the rally fell just short as the Eagles dropped their season opener to No. 9 Lambuth University (Tenn.) 71-70 in the first day of the 16th Annual Jackson Rotary Classic at the Fred DeLay Gymnasium on the campus of Union University.

Biola drops to 0-1 on the season while Lambuth improves to 5-2 overall.

Junior forward Jenna French led the Eagles in scoring with 20 points, connecting on six three-pointers and adding six rebounds. Junior Jessilyn Conicelli contributed 10 points and eight boards.

Biola mounted an impressive comeback after trailing by 13 at 64-51 with 7:39 left to play. The 12-1 rally started with back-to-back three-pointers by senior Chelsea De Luca and ended with a Conicelli jumper in the paint, making it 65-63. Biola kept the score close down the stretch and pulled within two points at 69-67 with just over a minute to go. The Eagles had a number of opportunities in the final minute, but converted just two of four free throw attempts and--after a 94-percent free throw shooter missed the front end of a 1-and-1--a last-second shot by Charisse Reece fell short at the buzzer.

The first half was also a battle of runs. Biola got off to a quick start, jumping out to a quick 12-5 lead with 12:44 to play in the first half, capped by a three-pointer from Emily Drews. Lambuth came back and closed the gap to one at 14-13 and still trailed 16-15 just a minute later. Biola again went on a 10-3 run, stretching the lead to 26-18 with 4:42 to go thanks in large part to a pair of three-pointers by French midway through the run.

But it was Lambuth which had the final run of the half, outscoring Biola 17-6 over the final 4:30 of the half, heading to the locker room with a 35-32 lead.

In the second half, the two teams kept the game close through the first 10 minutes. Lambuth began to pull away at the midway point using a long run to take a 13-point lead, its largest of the game. However, Biola was able to close the gap late making for the exciting finish.

Janee Webb led all scorers with 22 points for Lambuth thanks in large part to five three-pointers. La Tonya McKenney added 18 points.

Biola returns to action at the NAIA's top in-season tournament, taking on No. 6 Freed-Hardeman University (Tenn.) in the second day of the Rotary Classic, Friday at 7:00 p.m. PT.