Box Score AZUSA, Calif. --- For the second time in three conference games, Biola struggled mightily in the second half and it cost the team a chance at a huge upset win as the Eagles lost 51-49 at arch-rival and No. 11-ranked Azusa Pacific University in a GSAC game on Tuesday night at the Felix Event Center.
Biola suffers its second-straight loss, falling to 8-4 on the season and to 1-2 in conference play. The Cougars improve to 9-4 and to 2-1 in the GSAC.
The Eagles hit a major shooting block in the second half after holding a three-point halftime lead on 50% shooting in the opening 20 minutes. In the second-half, Biola connected on 6-of-31 shots--just 19.4% from the field. However, solid defense by the Eagles kept the game close right up to the end.
A pair of free throws by Charrise Reece with 1:39 left to go in the game cut the Azusa Pacific lead to two and after three-straight turnovers by the Cougars, Biola had a trio of chances to win the game. But those three chances all ended in missed layups by the Eagles, giving Azusa Pacific the close win.
Reece led the Eagles with 12 points and added three assists and a season-best eight steals. Adijat Adams added 11 points and four blocks with Emily Drews and Chelsea Hill each adding 10 points.
Thanks to solid shooting, Biola lead through much of the first half. A three-pointer by Reece gave Biola an early 10-4 lead and another by Drews made it a 16-11 game with 12:35 to go in the half. The Eagles would continue to maintain the lead and took a 30-27 advantage to the half.
Biola kept the lead through the first part of the second half until a pair of APU free throws gave the Cougars a 40-38 edge--their first lead since the first bucket of the game. The Eagles kept things close, pulling back within two at 47-45 on a bucket by Adams at the 4:22 mark. But that proved to be the final field goal for the visitors who went 3-for-25 from the field over the final 15 minutes of the game.
Biola's defense did a great job against Azusa Pacific's Amber Williams, who was named the NAIA Player of the Week earlier in the day. Williams was held to just eight points on 3-of-16 shooting, though she did pull down a game-high 13 rebounds in the contest. Briana Hall led all scorers with 17 points, but was the only APU player in double-figures.
Biola was in unfamiliar territory on the boards, being out-rebounded 44-28. Williams had 13 of those boards and Madalene Barrett added 11.
The second-half shooting by the Eagles was reminiscent of the team's performance in a tough loss against Vanguard University early in the season. In the second period of that game, Biola scored just 16 points on 29% shooting in a 65-39 loss to the Lions.
The Eagles return to action on Saturday, hosting Concordia University (Calif.) in a GSAC contest at Chase Gymnasium. Tip-off is slated for 5:30 p.m.
