IRVINE, Calif. --- Two games into the 2026-27 season, Biola Women's Basketball has already established a pretty clear identity.
The Eagles are going to make opponents work for everything.
Biola forced 24 turnovers, collected 14 steals and held Cal State San Bernardino to 49 points Friday evening, rolling to a 74-49 victory in its opening game of the PacWest–CCAA Crossover Tournament at Concordia University's CU Arena.
The win moved Biola to 2-0 on the young season.
Biola scored the game's first four points and led 10-2 less than three minutes in before
Laney Grider connected from deep to push the margin to nine. The offense kept coming from there.
Biola shot a blistering 11-for-14 from the field in the opening quarter, including 3-for-5 from three-point range, while forcing seven CSUSB turnovers. By the end of the first 10 minutes, the Eagles had built a commanding 30-11 advantage.
Biola's 30-point opening quarter was its first 30-point frame since Jan. 28, 2022, when the Eagles poured in 38 during the third quarter of an 81-45 win over Chaminade.
The second quarter was considerably less aesthetically pleasing, but Biola's defense ensured it did not matter.
The Eagles managed just six points in the period, yet held the Coyotes to seven themselves. Even through the offensive lull, Biola carried an 18-point advantage into halftime, 36-18.
Any thought of a comeback disappeared after the break.
Biola erupted for 24 third-quarter points, shooting 10-for-17 while turning eight CSUSB turnovers into transition opportunities. A
Camden Miller layup started the push before
Ella Fritts,
Aliyah Bantolina and Grider helped the Eagles steadily stretch the advantage.
Grider's second three-pointer of the night made it 57-27, and Fritts completed a three-point play late in the quarter to send Biola into the fourth with a 60-30 lead.
Four Eagles finished in double figures.
Grider and Bantolina scored 12 points apiece, with Grider shooting 5-for-7 and Bantolina adding a game-high five steals.
Alyssa Kubo and Miller each contributed 10 points, while Fritts stuffed the stat sheet with eight points, seven rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Biola finished the night shooting 55.8 percent from the field and owned a 37-22 advantage on the boards. The Eagles outscored CSUSB 38-12 in the paint and, most significantly, turned the Coyotes' 24 turnovers into 27 points.
The defensive performance continued an early-season trend. Biola held Azusa Pacific to 42 points in Monday's opener, meaning the Eagles have surrendered just 45.5 points per game through their first two contests.Â
Biola will look to complete a perfect weekend at the PacWest–CCAA Crossover on Saturday at 3 p.m. against Stanislaus State, once again at CU Arena in Irvine. Stanislaus Stat lost by nearly 60 points to hosts CUI on Friday.
