Biola University Athletics

The Official Athletic Site of the Biola University Eagles

Scoreboard

Women's Basketball February 19, 2017 Brandon Taylor, Sports Information Assistant

Eagles Push Through Royals’ Senior-Night Stand

Biola wins its fourth-consecutive Golden State Athletic Conference contest 59-51 over HIU.

Box Score FULLERTON, Calif. --- For a team like No. 17 Biola that has so much success with its inside-out game plan over the last three victories, the 59-51 win over Hope International is still slightly sour. With the win, the 21-6 Eagles cemented at least a third place finish in the Golden State Athletic Conference with a 12-3 record in conference, but they probably feel the need to go back to the drawing board to figure out how the Royals put a stop to two major parts of Biola's game plan.

From the opening tip the Royals were prepared to break Biola's pressure defense and make things difficult for Joclyn Kirton down low. The Eagles second-leading scorer did not make a layup in the first half because of the frenetic attention the Royals paid to her when she got open. Subsequently. Kirton turned her focus to rebounding, pulling down nine boards in the first half.

Galvanized by the significance of their senior-night festivities and their last home game, Hope International limited Biola to just four points in the paint in the first 20 minutes while the home team almost shot .400 from the field in the first half.

But Biola stared their shooting difficulties in the face and never stopped working to break into their groove. Biola did close on Royals shooters often enough to force missed shots and limit the home team to 27 points at halftime. But a combined 18 points from Kirton, Annie Park and DeMoria White meant the Eagles went into the break down by three, 24-27.

Biola determination to breakdown the key for layups and persistence in taking open three-point attempts ended up be too much for Hope. By sheer volume of attempts, the Eagles were able to sink nine three-pointers in the game compared to the home team's four and scored 12 points on layups in the fourth quarter.

Kirton and White both made all three of their shot attempts over the last ten minutes, willing Biola to the best scoring quarter of the game with 21 points. The Eagles scored seven more points than Hope in the fourth period and expanded its one-point advantage after 30 minutes to the final margin of eight.

White led the Eagles in scoring with 18 points and was followed by Park's 14 and Kirton's 12. The senior forward finished with 11 rebounds for her tenth double-double.

The Royals had one double-digit scorer in Coulter Bowlen, who scored 16.

Biola returns to Chase Gym on Tuesday for its final GSAC matchup of the season. It faces San Diego Christian (16-9. 6-8 GSAC) at 5:30 p.m.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#21 Joclyn Kirton: F; 6' 0"; Senior

#1 Annie Park: G; 5' 5"; Senior

#5 DeMoria White: G; 5' 4"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#21 Joclyn Kirton
: 6' 0"; Senior
: F

#1 Annie Park
: 5' 5"; Senior
: G

#5 DeMoria White
: 5' 4"; Junior
: G

Players Mentioned

#21 Joclyn Kirton

#1 Annie Park

#5 DeMoria White

Players Mentioned

#21 Joclyn Kirton

#1 Annie Park

#5 DeMoria White

Sponsors