Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Biola's defense played well and held a lead through much of the game, but No. 4 Westmont used a big second-half run to avoid the upset as the Eagles lost 55-49 in the regular-season finale for both teams on Saturday night at Chase Gymnasium.
Biola wraps up the regular season with a record of 14-16 and finishes tied for sixth in the GSAC with a record of 4-10. The Warriors, who wrapped up their second-straight GSAC regular-season title last week, improve to 24-3 on the year and finish a perfect 14-0 in conference play.
As the sixth seed, Biola hosts a first-round game in the GSAC Tournament which begins on Monday at 7:30 p.m. The Eagles host the No. 7 seed Hope International. Westmont, the top seed in the tournament, has byes through the first two rounds, hosting its first game on Friday in the semifinal round.
Adijat Adams recorded her 13th double-double of the season with 14 points and 10 rebounds while Becca DeVere--playing in her final regular-season home game at Biola--added 10 points, eight rebounds, two assists and a steal.
Tugce Cantinez also had a double-double for Westmont with 22 points and 13 rebounds while Kelsie Sampson added 11 points for the Warriors.
Biola got off to a great start in the game, using solid defense to keep the high-scoring Warriors off the board. Westmont held an early one-point lead at 8-7 5:30 into the game, but biola responded with five-point run capped by a three-point play from DeVere with 13:25 to go in the half.
Biola maintained the lead and closed out the half on a 7-0 run to take a 28-19 lead to the locker room.
The Eagles opened the second half with a block and subsequent layup on the other end by Adams to take their largest lead of the game at 30-19. Biola fought off a pair of runs and used a brief four-point run to stretch the lead back to 10 at 40-30 on a jumper by Kristen Frey with 11:02 to play.
But the Warriors came alive and rolled off an 18-0 run to take their largest lead of the game at 48-40 with 4:07 to go. Biola went cold from the field, going 0-for-10 over the long run and also committing six turnovers.
The Eagles snapped the run with a bucket by Aubree Mittel which started a 6-0 run by Biola to make it a two-point game again with two minutes left. But a three-point bucket by Larissa Hensley stretched the lead back to five with 1:30 to go and the Warriors would hold on for the win.
Senior guard Jamie Elias drained a three-pointer with 24.9 seconds left to make things interesting, pulling it back to a two-point game at 51-49. Biola fouled Esther Lee on the inbounds play but Lee hit both free throws to stretch the lead back to four with 24 seconds left and held on for the win.
Biola dominated the glass, out-rebounding Westmont 51-33 including a 17-10 edge in offensive rebounds. The 17 rebounds led to 14 second-chance points. However, that was offset by the Eagles' 20 turnovers which gave Westmont 21 of its 55 points.
Tonight's game was the final for three Biola seniors: Brianna Morales, Becca DeVere and Jamie Elias. The trio was honored during a ceremony prior to the game.
They will each have one more chance to take to the floor at Chase Gymnasium, hosting Hope International University in a GSAC Tournament First-Round Game on Monday at 7:30 p.m.
