Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola was able to keep up with Olivet Nazarene University's high-pressure, high-scoring style of play through much of the game, but ran out of gas late, falling 112-96 in a non-conference game on Saturday night in the final game of the Biola Holiday Classic.
The Eagles fall to 7-6 overall while the NAIA Division II No. 10-ranked Tigers improve to 12-2.
Biola received a game-high 26 points and 11 rebounds from sophomore Chelsea Hill, who added six assists and three blocks all in 28 minutes. Elizabeth Munger added 18 points, 113 rebounds three assists and a pair of blocks.
The total offense set a Biola record as the teams combined for 208 points to set a new record. The Eagles' 96 points were the most scored since they tallied 101 against the University of Maine-Fort Kent during the 2002-03 season while the 112 points allowed matched a record established in a 112-46 loss during the 1992-93 season.
Olivet Nazarene's defense forced 29 Biola turnovers, though the Eagles committed fewer than the Tigers normally force in a game. ONU also fired up 54 three-pointers in the game, hitting 22 (40.7 percent). The Eagles also forced 22 turnovers but hit just 1-of-12 from beyond the arc.
Biola stuck around with the Tigers through much of the game, though the Eagles never were able to gain the lead. After trailing by as many as 12 in the first half, Biola rallied late and used an 8-1 run to trail by just five at 48-43 at halftime.
In the second half, the Eagles trimmed the lead to three on a layup by Angel Dorn to make it 56-53 with 16:40 to play. But the Tigers hit a pair of free throws then drained a long three-pointer which stretched the lead back to eight one minute later.
Biola would again cut the lead down to three at 65-62 with 12:26 remaining, but started to run out of gas. The Eagles would stay within seven for the next few minutes, but with the score at 77-70 with 10:17 to go, Olivet Nazarene used a 15-2 run to blocs the game open and take a 92-72 lead. Biola would score eight-straight and made it interesting, but could get no closer down the stretch.
The Eagles shot 46 percent in the game and hit 13-of-16 from the free throw line. The Tigers made 40.6 percent of their shots and were 12-of-15 from the charity stripe. Biola scored 68 of its 96 points in the paint and 42 points on the fast break. Olivet had 37 points off 29 Biola turnovers.
Biola returns to action in 2013, hosting Cal State San Marcos on Friday, January 4, at 5:30 p.m.
