RIVERSIDE, Calif. --- Junior forward Jessilyn Conicelli was one of four players in double-figures for Biola with a team-high 23 points, leading the Eagles to an 86-79 victory over California Baptist University in a GSAC game on Saturday night at Van Dyne Gymnasium in Riverside.

The victory is the eighth in the last nine games for the Eagles, who improve to 11-6 overall and to 7-2 in GSAC play. The Lancers fall to 10-9 and to 3-6 in the conference.

Conicelli led the way with 23 points--20 in the first half--on 10-of-13 shooting, adding nine rebounds, five assists and two steals. Sophomore guard Charrise Reece and junior center Christina Barclay each added 18 points. Reece also contributed eight assists, six rebounds and two steals while Barclay had four blocks, six rebounds, three assists and a steal.

Biola looked like it was finally able to pull away from Cal Baptist in the second half of an exciting back-and-forth contest, using a 10-0 run to take its largest lead of the game at 64-52 with 12:17 to play. But the Lancers quickly closed the gap to two just three minutes later, setting up an exciting finish.

After California Baptist took back the lead on a pair of free throws by Kendra Morris with 7:54 to go, Biola responded quickly as Reece, who scored 15 of her 18 points in the second half, came down and drained a deep three to give the Eagles the lead back for good. From that point on, Biola converted 14 of 18 free throw attempts and played strong defense to hold off the Lancers for the seven-point win.

Morris led all scorers with 27 points, hitting six three-pointers and going 8-of-15 overall from the field. Megan Bradford scored 21 points for the Lancers, adding six rebounds, three assists and three steals.

The first half of the game was a momentum battle, with both teams taking advantage with long runs. Biola took the first big lead with a six-point run over a two-minute stretch to take a 19-11 lead at the 13:31 mark.

Still leading by seven at 30-23 just past the halfway point, the Eagles allowed the momentum to swing back to Cal Baptist. The Lancers used a 17-4 run over the next six minutes to take their largest lead at 40-34 with 4:17 left. Biola would struggle the rest of the half as well, but managed to trail by just three points at halftime.

Biola dominated in the paint, outscoring the Lancers 36-18 inside.

The Eagles close out the first half of GSAC play on Tuesday (Jan. 26), hosting Hope International University at 5:30 p.m. at Chase Gymnasium.