Box Score MERCED, Calif. --- For the second straight contest, Biola's defense holds it opponent to under 30 percent shooting, keeping the UC Merced Bobcats to 22.45 percent shooting from the floor on Saturday. Both sides of the ball came together in the second half when the Bobcats didn't score a point for the first seven minutes and the Eagles banked 31 in the half.

"The team fought hard for this road win," said Head Coach Dr. Bethany Miller. "We are continuing to learn and grow, and tonight we worked hard defensively to get stops when we weren't having a strong game offensively."
 
Through the first five games of the season, Biola's defense has been transcendent. Newcomers Taylor Casey, Jasmin Longtin and Christiana Layne have joined Chelsea Hill and Elizabeth Munger to anchor the frontcourt. The five forwards give the Eagles size, athleticism and, most importantly, an understanding of where to be that no opponent's offense has been able to work around. Their work has not completely translated to the stat sheet, as the team swatted just one shot in this game and is averaging just 2.6 blocks per game, but a great defense starts with forwards, like these five, who can hedge on screens, be in proper help position and lockdown opposing post players.

The Eagles' frontcourt held all but one of Merced's forwards completely scoreless in this one. Adrienne Carmona was 3-3 from the field to post six points on the afternoon, the only big on the Bobcats' bench to score a single point.

"We had many players step up and do the little things that matter in the second half to help us pull away with the win," said Miller. "We are looking forward to getting back after it on Monday and putting the work in to get better."
 
UC Merced, who was hitting 35 percent on field goals coming into the game, shot its lowest number of the season. Biola is holding opponents to 30.4 percent on the season, and the Eagles have held each of its five opponents below their field goal percentage average entering the game. In the last 10 years, no GSAC team has finished the season holding opponents to less than 34 percent from the field, let alone the 30 percent Biola is at the moment. 
 
Biola's offense has been a bit behind its defense to start the season, but it did enough in this one. On the positive side, Biola shot nearly 40 percent and grabbed 10 offensive rebounds. Hill led the Eagles on that end too, grabbing 13 rebounds and putting in 12 points.
 
On the less positive side, The Eagles committed 28 turnovers in this game. They have been plagued by turnovers throughout the season, although not to the degree they were last year. This problem is seemingly a fixable one as new lead guards DeMoria White and Annie Park continue to get acclimated. An encouraging sign to their development: the Eagles are averaging 16.8 assists this season, 15 today, after just 11.7 last season.

As the guards settle into a comfortable pace and continue to grow with their teammates, the turnovers should drop. Biola has also experimented and found some success with playing Park and White on the court together with Amanda Darouie, five assists in this one, to maximize their ball handling. The trio combined for 23 points and nine assists against the Bobcats.

"Amanda played a solid game for us and showed leadership and discipline on the court," said Miller. 

The strong second half for Biola, and very weak one for UC Merced, was the key to Biola's fourth win of the season. The Bobcats made just four shots from the floor in that half with an excruciatingly cold shooting performance. Most of that 4-25 showing was due to the lead Biola was building forcing the Bobcats to turn to their outside shooting, which struggled mightily. The Bobcats were 0-6 from deep late in the game. Biola took advantage of UC Merced's poor shooting in the half and did its best to avoid helping the Bobcats. The Eagles committed only six fouls in the half and gave UC Merced only six chances at the line.

Biola improves to 4-1 with the win and drops the Bobcats to 1-3 overall.
 
The Eagles are back at home Wednesday, Nov. 19, when they host La Sierra (0-2) at 7:30 p.m.