BOX SCORE

LA MIRADA, Calif. — Three players scored 20 or more points as Biola scored the most points in a game in nine seasons in a 96-85 win over Hope International in a GSAC game on Tuesday night at Chase Gymnasium.

The victory snaps a four-game losing streak for the Eagles and helps them improve to 6-15 on the season and 3-9 in conference play. The Royals drop to 14-10 and 5-7 in the GSAC on the heels of their second straight loss.

Biola's offense clicked on all cylinders, shooting 56 percent in the game and 62 percent in the second half. It was the highest point total since the 1998-99 season when the Eagles beat Hope 96-52 at Chase Gymnasium.

Forward Megann Alberts scored 26 points and added 14 rebounds for her seventh double-double of the season and second in as many games. Forward Summer Matthews added 22 points and 10 boards for her fourth double-double. Freshman guard Jenna French had a career-high 20 points and added four assists and three steals.

Jasmine Nault, who leads the NAIA in scoring, poured in a game-high 32 points for Hope while Sarah Nylander scored 22 on the strength of five three-pointers.

The Royals came out with a strong first half, taking a 31-21 lead with 8:26 to play in the period on a Nault three-pointer. The Eagles whittled the lead down to one at 43-42 as Alberts converted on a three-point play, but trailed 47-44 at the half.

Biola came out firing in the second half, clamping down on defense and scoring on 15 of its first 17 possessions including 14-straight at one point. The Eagles hot shooting led to a 20-0 run over a seven minute stretch as they blew the game open and took a 66-51 lead with 13:57 to go. Hope was unable to get within single digits the rest of the way as the Royals shot just 27 percent from the field over the final 20 minutes.

The inside game for Biola was its biggest strength as the Eagles outscored Hope 38-20 in the paint and held a 51-30 advantage in rebounding. Biola leads the GSAC in rebounding offense, defense and margin.

Senior guard Mandi England played a full 40 mintues for the Eagles, scoring 10 points and adding eight rebounds and three assists. She also was 3-for-5 from beyond the arc.

The Eagles have a tough road ahead as they are in the midst of a stretch of four games in eight days. Thursday (Feb. 7), Biola travels to Point Loma Nazarene for a GSAC game at 5:30 p.m.