BOX SCORE

LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Sophomore center Megann Alberts had career-highs with 36 points and 19 rebounds to lead Biola University to a 73-66 win over California Baptist University in a Golden State Athletic Conference women's basketball game Saturday night in La Mirada.

The victory snaps a three-game losing streak for the Eagles, who improve to 6-7 overall and 2-3 in the GSAC. The Lancers fall to 8-6 on the season and remain winless in conference in five tries.

Alberts dominated inside for Biola especially in the second half, shooting 8-for-14 from the field in the final 20 minutes. Overall she was 14-of-24 and 8-of-9 from the free throw line.

Cal Baptist played a strong full-court press throughout the game which caused the Eagles fits. Biola's best success came when it was able to break the trap defense.

In the first half the Eagles used a 12-3 run to open up a 17-7 lead. Biola then went cold from the field, however, going over six minutes without a field goal as Cal Baptist was able to claw its way back into the game. Both teams traded small leads for the rest of the half and went to break tied at 31.

After the second half went back and forth for the first seven minutes, Biola used another long run to break the game open again. Alberts scored five points to key the 10-0 run to give the Eagles a 56-46 lead with nine minutes remaining.

That lead was also short lived as the Lancers closed the gap to two points on three occasions. The Lancers trailed by just three points at 67-64 with 1:29 remaining as Nicole Davis drilled a long three. But the Eagles made six of eight free throws down the stretch to hold the lead and win the game.

Guard Mandi England added 10 points for the Eagles, but became one of the many injured players on the Biola squad when she was hit in the head while fighting for a loose ball in the second half.

The Lancers received 18 points each from Erin Greenberg and Davis.

The Cal Baptist full-court press forced 25 Biola turnovers which the Lancers turned into 26 points. The Eagles managed to stay in the game with a 58-35 advantage in rebounds.  

Biola returns to action on Tuesday (Jan. 9) when it faces GSAC rival Westmont College at 5:30 p.m. in Chase Gymnasium.