The Biola women's basketball team lost two of their three games in this weekend's Westminster College Utah Tournament in Salt Lake City. They narrowly lost to the University of Montana Western 58-57 and fell to Westminster College Utah 55-45. They wrapped up the Thursday through Saturday trip with a 54-35 win against Lewis-Clark State College.

On Thursday night’s game versus Montana Western, the Eagles broke an early tie of 6-6 and had a 9-2 run over a four-minute span. With 11:33 left on the clock, freshman Aubree Mittel scored a three-pointer to put Biola at its largest lead of 15-8. As the first half went on, Montana Western eventually caught up and tie at the first half 26-25.

Heading into the second half, just three minutes in, Biola lead by five points 33-28. Later, with 7:13 left of play, the Eagles led the score 50-44. As time wound down to 3:16 left on the clock, the Bulldogs tied the game at 54-54. At the end of the second half, however, Montana Western pulled through to beat Biola by one point, 58-57.

Some key contributors were junior Adijat Adams logged 24 minutes and finished the game with 12 points and five rebounds, sophomore Amy Freet added 11 points and six rebounds, and sophomore Chelsea Hill with nine points, and 10 rebounds.

Eagles fall behind early to Westminster

Friday night’s game against No. 5 Westminster Utah got off to a slow start. Thirteen minutes into the first half, Biola and Westminster held a tie of 8-8, but Mittel broke the tie with a 3-pointer. The Griffins then went on a 14-2 run to put them up at 22-13. At the end of the first half, Westminster led 24-18.

Going into the second, Westminster led by as many as 11 points. The Eagles cut the deficit by three points by going on a 10-3 run making the score 40-37 with 7:08 left on the clock. However, this was not enough and the Griffins won 55-45.

Biola caps off tournament with victory

Finally on Saturday, Biola swept past Lewis-Clark 54-35 with Adams leading the team with 24 points and 15 rebounds.

In the first half, the score remained close throughout and with 30 seconds left in the first half, Hill scored one of two free throws to put the Eagles up by one, 18-17, at the end of the half.

Biola took its largest lead in the second half by as many as 18 points. The Eagles scored 36 points while the Warriors scored only 18.

Freet contributed 10 points and seven rebounds, Hill with nine points and four rebounds, and senior Becca DeVere with two points and seven rebounds.

The women will be back in their home state to play in an away game against California State University Dominguez Hills in Carson on Nov. 15.