Box Score LA MIRADA, Calif. --- A loss always leaves a sour taste in your mouth, but a one-point loss at home after leading for just about the entire game is a special kind of sour taste.
 
Biola had to experience that sour taste on Tuesday night as it dropped one to the University of Victoria, 59-58. It was a Shaylyn Crisp free throw that was the dagger in this one, as the senior guard put the Vikes ahead with three seconds left on the clock.
 
Her free-throw opportunities came on the heels of Chelsea Hill's fifth foul of the game, one of two Eagles to foul out down the stretch in this one as the officials continued to give little liberty to the players late in the game.
 
The loss on a late free throw was a frustrating end to a game Biola controlled throughout, but it came nonetheless handing the Eagles their first loss since Nov. 24, dropping their record to 10-4. It was the Vikes first win since Nov. 1.
 
"We didn't shoot the ball well tonight, but we did a number of other things well," said Head Coach Dr. Bethany Miller. "We are always ready to learn from a loss, and tonight I think we picked up a lot of lessons."
 
The Eagles began the game taking advantage of a bunch of Vikes turnovers and missed shots to build and early lead, despite both teams struggling from the field. Victoria coughed the ball up nine times in the first half and Biola held a 29-17 lead in the rebound race to get enough possessions to hold a 32-21 lead at the halftime break.
 
The strong rebounding came courtesy Hill and Elizabeth Munger, who were both dominant inside throughout the night. They had 16 of the Eagles' 29 rebounds in the first half, including six offensive boards.
 
Biola was sound on the offensive glass throughout the night, bringing in 26 offensive rebounds to pair with its 28 defensive rebounds. Biola got 17 second-chance points off those offensive rebounds. Munger had a huge night, scoring her first double-double of the season with 15 points and 11 rebounds and shooting 9-9 at the free throw line.
 
"Liz played a really determined game," said Miller. "She really crashed the boards hard and shot well, 3-4 from the field and 9-9 from the free-throw line is great."
 
Foul trouble caught up to Biola down the stretch as Victoria's higher shooting percentage on free throws helped them cut Biola's lead from 14 to 10 to five to three and eventually to a tie game throughout the length of the second half.
 
The Vikes were 13-17 from the line in the second half, after drawing just one free throw in the first. Biola was only allowed nine chances from the line in the second half, converting five of them.
 
Biola also had more troubles from the field in the second 20 minutes, including shooting just 1-11 from beyond the arc, which is a critical part of the Eagles' offense.
 
The loss is a disappointing way to end the 2014 portion of the Eagles' schedule, but they'll have a chance to rebound when they host South Dakota School of Mines at 5:30 p.m. on Jan. 2.