BOX SCORE

COSTA MESA, Calif. — Biola played a strong game against one of the NAIA's best teams, but a big second-half run helped No. 3 Vanguard University to a 86-57 win over the Eagles in a Golden State Athletic Conference game on Saturday night at The Pit in Costa Mesa.

The loss drops the Eagles to 5-13 on the season 2-7 in conference action while the Lions move to 12-3 and 8-1 in the GSAC.

Biola played a strong first half and despite playing a tough team in a hostile environment. The Eagles fell behind 10-2 early in the game but managed to keep Vanguard close and pulled to within one at 27-26 with 2:19 remaining in the first half. However, a quick 8-0 run gave the Lions a 35-26 lead at the half.

In the second, the Eagles came out strong and used a jumper by freshman Jenna French to make it 42-38 with 15:35 left on the clock. But Biola would go cold from the field after that shot while Vanguard pulled away, using a 22-0 run over the next seven minutes.

Sophomore Megann Alberts scored 14 points to lead the Eagles while freshman Jenna French added 12 points off the bench.

The Lions were led by Lindsey Rinke, who scored 20 points off the bench. She led five Vanguard players in double-figures, though 2006-07 NAIA Player of the Year Jessica Richter was not one of them. The Eagles held Richter to just nine points on 4-of-11 shooting.

Biola's next contest will be a big one as the Eagles travel to face arch-rival Azusa Pacific University at Azusa on Tuesday (Jan. 29) at the Felix Events Center.