LA MIRADA, Calif. --- In a game which featured all of the excitement and atmosphere a battle between two of the top teams in the NAIA, No. 6 Biola put up an impressive fight, but was unable to knock off No. 5 California Baptist, falling 56-50 on Saturday night at Chase Gymnasium.

The loss snaps the Eagles' six-game winning-streak as they fall to 17-4 and to 9-3 in GSAC play. The Lancers improve to 18-4 and stay atop the conference standings with an 11-1 mark.

A loud and enthusiastic crowd of 556 was treated to a great game between the two Top 10 teams. Jennifer French led the Eagles with 14 points while Jessilyn Conicelli poured in 11 and added 10 rebounds for her 15th double-double of the season and her fifth-straight. 

Dana Olsen scored 17 points--12 in the second half--to pace the Lancers. Brenna Hahn added 12 points.

The game came right down to the wire with the Eagles cutting a late seven-point deficit to just one with 32 seconds to go. After a the Lancers were only able to convert one of two free throw attempts on the other end, Biola had a look to tie with under 28 seconds. However, a close jumper by Lauren Gustafson rattled around the rim and finally fell out leading to a clinching layup on the other end by V.V. Vasciunaite.

The Lancers started the see-saw battle with 10-2 run to take a 12-7 lead at the 13:08 mark of the first half. Biola by clamping down on defense, holding Cal Baptist without a field goal over the next 11 minutes, using the drought to go on top 23-15 with 3:24 left in the period.

The Eagles would head to the locker room with an eight-point, 25-17 lead after 31 percent in the first half and holding CBU to just 25 percent shooting.

The Lancers were also hampered by three early fouls called on Olsen, who played just 12 minutes in the first half.

In the second half, California Baptist opened up the period by scoring as many points in the first six minutes as it had in the entire first 20 minutes. Olsen led the charge by scoring six of those 17 points as the Lancers would go up 34-31 with 14:16 to go.

The two teams went back and forth from there until Cal Baptist started to pull away over the final four minutes, stretching its lead to seven off a pair of free throws by Olsen with 3:51 to go. 

But Gustafson scored on a layup on the other end, then after a turnover, Charrise Reece pulled the team to within three at 51-48 on a driving layup with 1:51 to play. Both teams missed three-point attempts on their next two possessions with the Lancers missing an easy layup with 40 seconds to go. 

Gustafson was fouled after pulling down the rebound and sunk both free throw attempts to pull to within one at 51-50 with 32 seconds left. But Gustafson was unable to keep her magic over the final few minutes going, missing a contested jumper attempt with 19 seconds left.

The Lancers shot over 40 percent in the half including nailing three three-pointers after going 0-for-4 in the first. Biola managed to hit just 29 percent in the second and missed all six free throw attempts.

Cal Baptist held a 31-20 edge in the paint, using its size advantage to score inside. However, Biola managed to match the Lancers in rebounding, each team recording 41. 

The victory gives Biola a tough up-hill battle to try and win its first conference title in program history. The Eagles sit two games back of the first-place Lancers, with CBU holding the tiebreaker. Azusa Pacific, Biola's next opponent, is one game ahead of the Eagles with Biola holding the advantage after winning the first round game in Azusa.

The Cougars come into Chase Gymnasium on Tuesday (Feb. 1) sporting the No. 7 ranking in the country. Azusa Pacific's lone two losses in GSAC play have been to the Eagles and Lancers. Tip-off for Biola's second Top 10 showdown in as many games is at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are required for admission and can be picked up at the Biola Bookstore.