AZUSA, Calif. --- Senior center Christina Barclay had 16 points and added 10 rebounds and four blocks as No. 12 Biola pulled off a 66-57 upset over No. 3 Azusa Pacific University in a GSAC game on Tuesday night at the Felix Events Center in Azusa.

The Eagles improve to 7-2 on the season and are now 2-1 in GSAC play. The Cougars, the defending GSAC co-Champions and NAIA Tournament Finalists, drop to 8-2 overall and to 2-1 in the conference.

Barclay posted one of the best shooting nights of the season for the Eagles, going 7-of-11 from the field for 16 points. Senior forward Jessilyn Conicelli recorded her sixth double-double in Biola's first nine games, scoring 12 points and adding 17 rebounds.

Fellow senior Jennifer French added 13 points and drained three three-pointers, adding four rebounds and a pair of assists.

Things got off to a great start for the Eagles as they outscored the Cougars 18-4 over the first 8:30 of the contest. Biola kept the run going, stretching the lead to 28-8 on a three-pointer by Lauren Gustafson with 7:45 to go before the half.

But Azusa Pacific woke and used a quick 16-2 run over the next four minutes to cut the lead to six at 30-24. Christina Barclay hit a jumper to end Biola's four-plus minute stretch without a field goal and the Eagles held precariously to a 34-27 lead at the half.

After the break, Azusa Pacific scored the first two points on free throws by Kristie Hala'Ufia to pull within five at 34-29. However, the Eagles scored on a jumper by Barclay, who then blocked a shot on the other end leading to a three-pointer by Charrise Reece to stretch the lead back to 10 just under a minute in.

The Cougars would again trim the lead to five at 45-40 on four-straight free throws just over seven minutes in. Biola would answer back again, stretching the lead to 61-44 with a 16-4 run over the next seven minutes. Azusa Pacific made things interesting down the stretch with a quick eight-point run to pull to within nine, but Biola hit its free throws over the final two minutes to pull off the victory.

Eboni Sadler led the Cougars with 17 points and contributed nine rebounds. All-American Alex Moore-Porter was held to just nine points on 3-of-14 shooting.

The Eagles, who rank second in the NAIA in opposing field goal percentage, held the Cougars to just 33 percent shooting on the night and their second-lowest scoring output of the season. 

The victory was just Biola's second win over the Cougars in its last 11 games and snaps a five-game losing streak at APU.

The Eagles return to the court on Saturday (Dec. 11), continuing a tough week as they host No. 6 Vanguard University in a key GSAC battle at 5:30 p.m. at Chase Gymnasium. It will be Biola's final contest before Christmas.