LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola University's 2012-13 Women's Basketball schedule released by second-year Head Coach Bethany Miller on Thursday features 33 games (29 counting games), 17 home games and four non-conference games against NAIA ranked opponents.
The Eagles kick off their ambitious schedule with tough games early on. After a pair of exhibitions, Biola plays its home opener on Saturday, Nov. 3 against La Sierra University before heading to Utah for an early-season test. The Eagles takes on three tough non-conference foes at the Westminster College Tournament in Salt Lake City, opening against the University of Montana-Western on Nov. 8. Biola then faces a pair of nationally-ranked teams in No. 15 Westminster College on Nov. 9 and No. 12 Lewis-Clark State College on Nov. 10.
The Eagles take on a pair of NCAA Division II teams upon return to Southern California, traveling to Cal State Dominguez Hills on Nov. 15 and former GSAC foe Point Loma Nazarene University on Nov. 17. Biola returns home for a game against Bethesda University of California on Nov. 19 and faces Point Loma Nazarene again at Chase Gymnasium on Nov. 28.
The Eagles have one more long road trip, traveling to the Bay area to face Cal Maritime on Dec. 7 and Menlo College on Dec. 8. After another international exhibition game, the Eagles host cross-town foe Chapman University on Dec. 17 before heading to Christmas Break.
Biola once against hosts its Holiday Classic, taking on University of Victoria (B.C.) on Dec. 28 and Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.) on Dec. 29. The Eagles close out their non-conference schedule, hosting Cal State San Marcos on Jan. 4 and William Jessup University on Jan. 5.
Biola opens GSAC play with a tough test, facing defending conference champion and No. 4-ranked Westmont College in Santa Barbara on Jan. 8. The Eagles then come home for another challenge, hosting No. 13 Vanguard University on Jan. 12.
The conference schedule closes the way it began thanks to an odd scheduling quirk as Biola hosts No. 4 Westmont on Feb. 23.
Biola finished the year with a 23-11 record after reaching the quarterfinals of the NAIA Tournament for the first time in program history. The Eagles, who were ranked No. 20 in the final NAIA poll, returns two starters along with all of its key reserves and adds a solid recruiting class to the mix this season.
"We are looking forward to a very competitive schedule this year which features four ranked non-conference opponents, three strong NCAA Division II games as well as our usual tough conference schedule," said Miller. "With a strong recruiting class, we again have high expectations for our lever of performance. The girls have been working hard this summer and we can't wait to get started."
