Box Score FULLERTON, Calif. --- A wacky second half had Biola Women's Basketball sweating during its road game at Hope International on Saturday evening, but ultimately the Eagles walked away with a 48-46 victory to pull back to .500 on the season.
 
The Eagles held Hope International to just 23 percent from the field in the win, but the game remained tight throughout because of the Royals' big lead on the boards and advantage in steals allowing them more possessions to work with.
 
"It was exciting to see the team come together and take ownership of this game," said Head Coach Alan Nakamura. "They really communicated and worked together and found answers late in the third quarter. Hope International made a nice run at the end. Thankfully we hit just enough shots and made just enough plays to hang on. Including the contributions of our redshirts and injured players this was a total team effort!"
 
The first half was neck-and-neck as both teams experienced short stretches of great play that sent the game into the halftime break tied at 31.
 
Through the first six and a half minutes of play the game belonged to the Eagles as the visiting team opened up a 15-7 lead thanks to a handful of makes on open three-point attempts.
 
Aubree Mittel began the game with a made three from the corner, keeping her hot streak alive, and then Danielle Kennedy and DeMoria White added threes of their own to help pad the lead.
 
Fittingly it was a last-second three-point make (from half court) that completed HIU's comeback from that early disadvantage. The Royals scored the final eight points of the first quarter to knot the game at 17 going into quarter number two.
 
The second quarter was a bit more of an even one as the largest lead of the period was four points. Taylor Casey scored five points in the period as she and Sara Dougan's play inside helped the Eagles in front for most of the period.
 
The Eagles never trailed in the first half while shooting 40 percent from the field and going 7-of-8 from the free throw line.
 
The Royals took their first lead of the game with a free throw early in the third quarter. The scoring slowed way down on both sides coming out of the halftime break as that made free throw was the only point scored in the first 5:38 on the third quarter.
 
Once the scoring did begin in that quarter it was all Biola. The Eagles utilized a few steals, a block and a lot of good runs in transition to score 11 of the 13 points in the third as they built a 42-33 lead.
 
White was key in that late third quarter run as she scored nine of the team's 11 in the frame. The Royals dug a deep hole for themselves by going 0-for-11 from the floor in the period.
 
After a Kennedy three-pointer extended Biola's lead to 12 points on the first made bucket of the fourth the Eagles were held scoreless until the 2:33 mark as HIU brought the game back to even at 45.
 
Kennedy scored all six of the Eagles' points in the fourth quarter as her made three with just over two minutes to play ended up being the game-winner as HIU was only able to score one more point down the stretch.
 
"It's been tough having so many games come down to the last minute," said senior guard Aubree Mittel. "It's tested us as a team but I think it's made us stronger. To win tonight we had to be focused and everyone had to do their part. I love this team and am so happy I get to spend my last games with them. I can't wait to see what we accomplish in the second half of GSAC play."
 
Dougan was critical to Biola's ability to hold HIU to just 15 points in the second half. The freshman piled on a season-high eight blocks in a strong night in the paint. She helped the Eagles to a 9-1 advantage in that category.
 
White was the team's leading scorer with 17 points. Kennedy and Casey both also reached double-digits with 11 points and 10 points, respectively.
 
The win moves the Eagles to 11-11 (4-4 GSAC). Biola is now 2-3 in its last five conference outings, all five of which have been decided by three points or fewer. The Royals fall to 9-7 (2-4 GSAC). Biola is back in action this Tuesday as it hosts San Diego Christian.