BOX SCORE

COSTA MESA, Calif. --- Junior forwards Jennifer French and Jessilyn Conicelli scored 18 and 17 points, respectively, but it was not enough for Biola to pull off the upset over No. 2 Vanguard, which held off the Eagles for an 85-70 victory on Saturday night at the Pit.

Biola drops to 2-4 on the season and to 1-1 in GSAC play. All four of the Eagles' losses have come to teams ranked in the NAIA Top 10. Vanguard improves to 5-1 and to 1-1 in the conference.

French had a strong game, hitting three three-pointers to give her 18 points for the third-straight game, adding four steals, six rebounds and two assists. Conicelli scored a season-best 17 points and reached double-figures for the sixth-consecutive contest. She also had added nine rebounds, two assists and a blocked shot.

The Eagles matched the Lions shot for shot throughout the game, however, committed 31 turnovers which led to 40 points for Vanguard.

Biola kept the game close through the first half and trailed by just five at 35-30 with 2:41 left to go in the first half. However, a quick 6-0 run by Rachel Copeland, who hit a three-pointer on one possession, then was fouled on the next and converted all three free throws, made it a 41-30 meeting just over 1:30 later. The lead stretched to as many as 12 before a three-pointer by Elise Paty made it 44-35 score at halftime.

In the second half, the Eagles kept the score close through the first four minutes before a quick 7-0 run pushed the Vanguard lead to 15 at 58-43. The game would continue to remain within the 15 point margin over the next 10 minutes before Vanguard pulled away late.

Copeland led the Lions with 26 points while Bridgette Reyes added 25 points and five assists.

Biola returns to action on Saturday (Dec. 12), hosting No. 4 Point Loma Nazarene, a team which is coming off a 10-point home win over Vanguard the last time out.