Despite having a seven game winning streak, the Biola women’s basketball team unexpectedly ended its journey to the Golden State Athletic Conference championship game in a 84-56 loss to NAIA No. 5 Westmont College on Friday night, March 2.

Hill’s 21 points not enough for second half comeback

Senior Emily Drews contributed seven points while senior Lauren Gustafson added 13; but it was freshmen Chelsea Hill that led the Eagles with an impressive 21 points and six rebounds.

In the first half, the Warriors showed their dominance over the Eagles and quickly ascended to an 18-point lead with 5:36 left in the half. Two field goals in the last two minutes by Hill helped narrow the Warriors’ lead to 14 at the end of the half.

The Eagles then cut into a ten-point deficit in the beginning of the second period but never went ahead. Westmont built a 21-point lead and coasted to its semifinal win against the Eagles.

Missed shots bring Eagles down

Biola was unable to find a way to defend Warriors Katie Kittle and Tugce Canitez who both accounted for 20 points in the game and ended any lingering suspense in the second half.
Biola had a poor shooting performance; the Eagles took 61 shots and managed to make only 21 of them and made one 3-point field goal throughout the game. Outscoring the Eagles in every aspect, Westmont made 53.4 percent of their field goals, 47.1 percent of their three point field goals, and 87.5 percent free throws.

Despite the loss, Biola is 21-10 and may be selected as one of the 32 teams in the NAIA National Championship as an at-large team.