SANTA BARBARA, Calif. --- Junior forward Jessilyn Conicelli's team-high 22 points and an enormous edge in rebounding helped Biola pull off an 88-76 upset win over No. 20 Westmont College in a GSAC game on Tuesday night at Murchison Gymnasium.

The Eagles improve to 8-6 on the season with their fifth win in the last six games, and are now alone in fourth-place with a 4-2 conference record. The Warriors fall to 10-4 overall on the heels of their third-straight loss and drop to 3-3 in the GSAC.

Conicelli scored 22 points including six points in the overtime period, adding 12 rebounds for her fifth double-double of the season. She also had four assists, one block and one steal. Of Conicelli's 12 rebounds, eight came on the offensive glass and all helped lead Biola to a huge 53-26 edge in rebounding.

Conicelli was one of five Biola players in double-figures, with senior post Richae Kater scoring a season-best 13 points and adding five rebounds. Charrise Reece added 12 points, six rebounds, five steals and five assists, while Jennifer French and Emily Drews each contributed 11.

While the game was close throughout, the Eagles looked to have the game wrapped up, leading by 10, 69-59, with 4:14 left in the game. But the Warriors mounted a big comeback and used a 12-0 run over the next three minutes to take a two-point lead at 71-69 with 1:20 to play. Biola took back the lead with a clutch three-pointer by Drews with one minute left, then went up by three on a layup by Reece with 22 seconds left.

After a missed three-pointer on the other end, Conicelli was fouled and sent to the line for a one-and-one with 13 seconds to go. But she missed the front end and Westmont's Alisha Heglund drained just her third three-pointer of the season with one second left to force overtime.

In the extra period, the two teams exchanged points over the first two minutes, but the Eagles would pull away from there, scoring the final 12 points of the overtime. Senior guard Chelsea De Luca put the game away with a deep three-pointer with 1:37 to go which put Biola up five and the Eagles would convert their free throws down the stretch for the win.

"After we struggled down the stretch, I told them they were fine, we know how to beat them, let's just go out and do it," said Head Coach Ken Crawford. "Overall we feel good about the effort. Our rebounding made all of the difference for us, we got a lot of second chances and that's what ultimately won us the game. It was just another typical Biola/Westmont game: a battle between two very evenly-matched teams."

Westmont received a game-high 25 points from Heglund, who was 9-of-16 from the field including the big three-pointer to force overtime. Elizabeth Evancoe added 14 points off the bench and Jessica Case scored 10 for the Warriors.

Biola's victory was its first road win of the season and just the second win away from Chase Gymnasium. Seven of those eight games away from home--including three neutral-site games--have come against nationally-ranked teams. The other victory away from La Mirada came against NCAA Division II Cal State San Bernardino in the UC San Diego Triton Classic. The Eagles are a perfect 6-0 in home games.

The Eagles return to action on Saturday (Jan. 12), hosting Concordia University in a GSAC game at Chase Gymnasium. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.