LA MIRADA --- Biola Women's Basketball put together an impressive offensive performance Friday night, defeating Pomona-Pitzer 80-48 at Chase Gymnasium to close out its 2026-27 exhibition schedule.
The Eagles delivered a balanced offensive performance, shooting 51.6 percent from the field while recording 23 assists on 32 made baskets. Biola's defense also played a major role in the victory, holding the Sagehens to just 15 points in the second half.
The opening quarter featured a back-and-forth battle, with the teams exchanging leads multiple times. Pomona-Pitzer held a 10-8 advantage midway through the frame, but Biola responded with 10 unanswered points to close out the quarter.
Laney Grider and
Ella Fritts helped spark the run, while
Sienna Capelli and
Aliyah Bantolina added baskets in the final minute to give the Eagles an 18-10 lead.
Biola carried that momentum into the second quarter, building an 11-point advantage following a layup from
Camden Miller. However, the Sagehens answered with a 12-0 run to take a 27-26 lead with just over five minutes remaining in the half.
The Eagles quickly regained control as Grider knocked down a jumper to put Biola back in front. Bantolina followed with a three-pointer to extend the lead, and Fritts contributed seven points in the closing minutes to help BU enter halftime ahead 40-33.
Coming out of the break, Biola wasted little time creating separation. Fritts opened the third quarter with a layup, followed by another inside basket from
Ella Tatlock and a three-pointer from Grider. The Eagles' seven-point burst extended their advantage to 14 points (47-33).
Biola's defense continued to cause problems for the Sagehens, limiting the visitors to just nine points on 3-for-13 shooting in the third quarter. The Eagles outscored Pomona-Pitzer 17-9 in the frame to take a 57-42 lead into the fourth.
The final quarter belonged to Biola. Hanne Nybo opened the frame with a three-point play, sparking a 12-0 run that pushed the Eagles' lead to 27 points (69-42). Tatlock contributed four points during the stretch, while
Emily Cruz added a layup.
Biola went on to outscore the Sagehens 23-6 in the final 10 minutes to secure the 32-point victory.
Tatlock led the Eagles offensively with 14 points on 6-for-10 shooting and added two blocks. Fritts and Bantolina followed with 11 points apiece. Bantolina put together a well-rounded performance, leading Biola with eight rebounds and six assists.
Grider contributed nine points, while Cruz, Capelli and Miller each added seven. Cruz and Capelli also dished out four assists apiece, and Miller collected six rebounds.
As a team, Biola dominated inside, outscoring Pomona-Pitzer 44-18 in the paint while holding a 41-27 rebounding advantage. The Eagles also received 33 points from their bench and totaled 21 fast-break points.
Friday's exhibition victory does not count toward Biola's overall record. The Eagles will officially begin their 2026-27 season on Monday, Nov. 9 against Azusa Pacific at 5:30 p.m. inside Chase Gymnasium.
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