LA MIRADA, Calif. --- Of the many ways a team could approach the challenge of a new conference and a list of unfamiliar opponents, the Biola Eagles are decidedly optimistic.

And they have reason to be optimistic. The Biola fall-season teams all produced admirable results during their respective PacWest seasons and championships and third-year Head Coach Alan Nakamura has a lot of returning talent to mix-and-match for a formidable lineup.

"We lost a lot graduating [NAIA All-Americans] Annie Park and Joclyn Kirton," said Nakamura. "But the team has welcomed the challenge of increased training and preparation. We're excited for the new challenge of the PacWest Conference and NCAA Division II."

The Eagles will return 10 players from the team that made a run to the NAIA National Tournament last season and six who were in the starting lineup five times or more. Senior DeMoria White will captain that collection of players on the floor after leading the team in scoring the past two seasons. Also returning to the active roster are guards Danielle Kennedy and Brenna Khaw, whose needed contributions will sure up Biola's depth in the backcourt after Annie Park graduated.

"We're gonna trust Mori to lead the team and we're really excited to have Emma Newman come back to lead with Mori," said Nakamura. "Danie and Brenna have both looked really good in preseason workouts. And Jazz Benn will be ready to step in and play from the start."

When they were at their best last season, the Eagles played fast and never let the ball stick in one place. Their points would come from multiple outlets while one player would go off against a defense that strained to cover three or more scoring threats. And they proved they could be excellent at pressuring the ball at the defensive end by covering gaps and creating double teams at key moments. Nakamura and the Biola coaching staff hope that will be a winning formula again this season.

"Teamwork is gonna be one of our biggest strengths this year," said Nakamura. "The girls sincerely care about each other and want to come through for each other. Last year we led the GSAC in field-goal percentage and assists because we played as a team, so we're gonna emphasize teamwork this year too."

Nakamura's squad had a 23-8 record last year and finished tied for second in a Golden State Athletic Conference that had four teams ranked in the NAIA's top 17.

"The GSAC was a very prestigious conference in the NAIA and now we're moving into the PacWest, which regularly puts teams in the top-2 of the West Region and has sent teams to the National Semifinals in two of the last three years. It's gonna be a big challenge because there are no easy games and we cannot take a single night off."

The Eagles play their first game as an NCAA Division II team tonight when they tip off in an exhibition on the road at University of San Diego. Then they start countable matchups next week with a road game against Cal Poly Pomona on Nov. 14 and their first home game of the season on Nov. 16 against Northwest Nazarene.

Biola starts its PacWest schedule in grand fashion by traveling to Hawai'i at the end of November to play Hawai'i Pacific on Nov. 30 and Hawai'i-Hilo on Dec. 2. Then the Eagles will take part in their first rivalry games with Azusa Pacific when the new year rolls around. The Cornerstone Cup matchups will be on Saturday Jan. 6 in Azusa and Saturday Feb. 3 in Chase Gym.

All of Biola's games this season will be recapped right here at athletics.biola.edu.