Box Score COSTA MESA, Calif. --- Head Coach Alan Nakamura's pesky Biola Women's Basketball team gave No. 9 Vanguard all it could possibly handle inside of  "the PIT" in a 48-61 loss on Saturday night.
 
The Eagles outshot, out blocked and outran the Lions from start-to-finish, but ultimately a strong fourth quarter, a bunch of Biola turnovers and two key individual performances led Vanguard to the double-digit victory.
 
Biola looked primed for an upset through the first 10 minutes as the Eagles shot the lights out early on following a few minutes where both teams went through an early scoring drought.
 
 DeMoria White took over the first quarter with her physical, commanding presence inside. She drove to the hoop time and time again to start piling up points and drawing some fouls.
 
White's leadership and the Eagles' pressure defense helped Biola hold the No. 9 Lions to just 11 points in the first quarter. Biola scored 16 points in the final six minutes of the period to earn a five-point lead at the break.
 
Biola continued to shoot well in the second quarter, going into halftime with a 58 percent shooting percentage from the floor. However, turnovers and fouls limited the Eagles' chances in that second period as BU only scored six points and went into halftime trailing 22-24.

"It is inspiring to see how our players compete. Two things I never question about our players are their character and desire to play like a team," said Head Coach Alan Nakamura.
 
Melissa Norman made a big impact for the Lions in that second quarter to help Vanguard take the lead late in the frame and keep it to go into the dressing rooms with some confidence.  She would end with 18 points and 10 rebounds for another double-double.
 
The Lions maintained a 5-10 point lead for a lot of the rest of the game as its outside shooters began to heat up. That solid shooting was a welcome sight for Vanguard fans after the team shot just over 30 percent in the first half. Norman and senior guard Samantha Doucette both played very well to carry the team's offense throughout the night.
 
Vanguard outscored Biola 21-13 in the decisive fourth quarter to pull away and make the game look a lot less close than it actually was. Samantha Doucette's 19 points on 8-of-14 shooting had a whole lot to do with that.
 
For Biola, Taylor Casey was superb on both ends in this one as she worked craftily around Lions defenders all night long. She finished with 14 points, including 10 second half points. She shot 7-of-8 from the floor and was a key part of the Eagles offense as the team clamored to keep in it late in the game. She was also one of the key reasons Biola managed to limit Vanguard's usually high-scoring offense to just 61 points as she had two steals and a block.
 
Another one of Biola's bigs, Sara Dougan, got her points in an unconventional manner this evening. She went 2-for-2 from beyond the arc to account for six of her 11 points. She's now made 15 three-point shots in 2015-16.
 
The loss gives Vanguard the 2-0 edge in the season series, but only a 15-point scoring margin in two close games.  Biola falls to 13-12 (6-5 GSAC), while the Lions improve to 16-4 (8-2 GSAC).

"Vanguard is very physical team, and we did a good job matching their energy and physicality," said Nakamura. "But they executed better than we did. We are looking forward to getting back in the gym on Monday to continue to get better every day."
 
Biola is back in action with another tough matchup on Tuesday Feb. 9. The Eagles will host No. 10 The Master's College at 5:30 p.m. in a matchup of the first place and fourth place teams in the GSAC.