ELLENSBURG, Wash.— The Biola women's basketball team finished their first game of the Thanksgiving Classic at the Nicholson Arena. The Eagles' first game of the two-day tournament was a competitive battle against Western Washington that ultimately ended up going in the Vikings' favor.

The Eagles gained a lead in the second quarter, but would end up falling 61-51 to the Vikings who finished strong in the final half.

Biola was trailing 14-13 to Western Washington after the first quarter and went on to out-score WWU 15-11 in the second. The Eagles had a balanced attack. Kaylen Kamelamela led the scoring effort with five points. Sammie Henley, Sydney Moran and Laila Walker contributed three points each and Jaycee Goldsmith scored one point.

BU gained the lead with the first basket of the second. Henley put the Eagles' ahead 15-14 with a layup in the paint. Western Washington tied up the game 19-19 with 6:44 on the game clock. Kamelamela responded with the next basket, putting Biola up 21-19. The Eagles controlled the lead for the remainder of the quarter and led by three headed into the half time break (28-25).

Western Washington came back strong in the third where they out-scored Biola 21-11. The Vikings closed the third with a seven point lead (46-39).

Despite a great effort by Biola, the Vikings pulled together a strong finish in the fourth frame to take home the 61-51 victory.

Walker and Henley were Biola's leading scorers against the Vikings with 13 points each. Walker also led her team with four assists and Henley led BU with four steals.

Goldsmith led her team on the boards, collecting nine.

Next up for Biola is Central Washington on Saturday, November 30th at 2 p.m.