LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Sophomore forward Jessilyn Conicelli had a near-record night, scoring 15 points and recording 25 rebounds including 16 on the offensive glass as Biola defeated Ottawa University (Kan.) 78-62 in a non-conference game on Saturday afternoon at Chase Gymnasium.

The Eagles have now won three-straight games and head into the Christmas break with a 7-3 overall record. The Braves fall to 3-10 on the season.

Conicelli came within one rebound of the school record of 26 shared by a pair of players from the 1980's. She had 18 in the first half alone, but played sparingly in the second period. Conicelli also added four assists, three steals and was 5-for-10 from the field in the game. 

Conicelli was one of five players to score in double-figures for the Eagles. Senior forward Megann Alberts rebounded from a tough game against Ashford on Wednesday by scoring 15 points against Ottawa, adding three blocks, seven rebounds and a pair of steals. Freshman guard Charrise Reece added 13 points and nine assists with fellow freshman guard Emily Drews contributing 12 poitns and five steals. 

The Eagles got off to another sluggish start in the game, falling behind early by a 13-8 count. They would work their way back into the game and tie the score at 15 just a few minutes later. With the score tied at 20-20, Biola began to pull away and outscored Ottawa 17-7 down the stretch to take a 37-27 lead to the half.

In the second half, the Braves scored the first four points of the half to pull within six, but that was as close as they would get the rest of the way. Biola continued to dominate inside while Ottawa answered with decent play of its own. The Braves trailed by just eight with at 53-45 with 11 minutes to play when  the Eagles finally put the game away with a 12-3 run to go up by 17. Biola would lead by as many as 20 points in the second half before settling for the 16-point victory.

Biola held a commanding 61-32 rebounding advantage in the game, but lots of rebounds are usually caused by sub-par shooting and that was the case for both teams. Biola finished with a 39 percent shooting night, but hit just 32 percent in the first half. Ottawa shot 37 percent from the field and hit just 27 percent from the three-point line. 

The Eagles also outscored the Braves 44-10 in the paint and used their rebounding edge to outscore the opponents 16-4 in second-chance points. 

Biola returns to action after Christmas by hosting cross-town rival Whittier College in a New Year's Eve non-conference game at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday (Dec. 31).