Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola lost the rebounding battle and did not score any second-chance points for the first time all season, falling 55-50 to Hope International University in a GSAC game on Tuesday night at Chase Gymnasium.
The Eagles fall to 12-14 on the season and to 3-8 in GSAC play while the Royals move to 12-14 and to 4-7 in the conference.
Chelsea Hill and Adijat Adams each scored 10 points to lead Biola, but both were 4-of-13 from the field. Hill added eight rebounds and three assists while Adams blocked three shots and pulled down five boards.
But the difference was on the glass where Biola was held to a season-low nine offensive rebounds and could not score any second-chance points off those rebounds. Hope had 11 but just four second-chance points.
The Royals jumped out to a quick lead, hitting three three-pointers in their first six shots to jump out to a 12-3 lead six minutes in. Biola slowly climbed back into the game and took the lead as part of a long 21-8 run to end the half. The run gave the Eagles a 27-23 lead at the break.
Biola maintained the lead through the first six minutes of the second half, but a 10-2 Hope International run gave the visitors a 39-35 lead with 11:39 to go. The Royals led by as many as eight at 47-39 with 5:14 left when the Eagles made one final push. Hill hit a pair of free throws to cut the lead to six with 3:59 left, then after a solid defensive stand, Adams hit a fast-break layup to cut the lead to four.
Hope milked the clock a bit but missed its shot attempt and Biola went down the other way and score on a Freet turn around jumper to make it a 47-45 game with 3:01 on the clock.
After a Hope bucket stretched it back up to a four-point game, Jamie Elias drained a three-pointer and the Eagles trailed by just one with 2:25 to go.
Biola had a chance to take the lead after a steal by Elias on the next possession, but a layup was missed by the Eagles. The Royals would get the ball back to its leading scorer in the game who hit a jumper with 1:04 to go to make it a 51-48 game. Biola had a good look at the three-pointer by Elias, but it just skipped off the side of the rim right to Rendon, who was tied up by Aubree Mittel, forcing a jump ball.
Biola would have another chance to tie but a three-pointer by Becca Devere was missed. Hope would get fouled and Shawna Staves would hit one of two free throws to stretch it to four and Devere hit both free throws after being fouled on the other end and it was back to a two-point game at 52-50 with 27 seconds left.
Hope would make just one of two on the other end and Biola called a timeout with 18 seconds left to set up a play. But during the ensuing play, Elias would step on the sideline, giving the ball back to Hope. The Royals would make both free throws to ice the game.
Biola committed 17 turnovers in the game leading to 17 points by Hope International. The Eagles out-shot the Royals 32.8 percent to 30.6 percent and was 6-of-17 from three-point range. However, Hope connected on seven more free throws at the charity stripe.
The Eagles hit the road for a rare non-conference game, traveling to Riverside to face La Sierra University on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Biola then returns to GSAC play on Saturday, hosting Concordia University (5-19, 3-8 GSAC) at 5:30 p.m.
