Women’s basketball has not posted the best record in the 2012-2013 campaign. This is a team that finished under .500 on the season. This is a team that finished with only four conference wins. This is a team that had not won back-to-back games since Jan. 5.
Yet following a thrilling first-round home win against Hope International University and a huge upset road win against No. 11 The Master’s College in the quarterfinals of the Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament, one big question has to be asked: Who exactly is this team?
Despite trailing for most of the Hope game, the team found a way to pull ahead in the final seconds and win Monday night at Chase Gymnasium, 63-61.
Senior guard Becca DeVere led the way for the Eagles in the final minute. DeVere, who finished the game with nine points and eight boards, hit a long three with 32 seconds remaining to push the Eagles in front 61-59. Hope tied it back up after sinking two free throws. With nine seconds remaining, DeVere drove the lane and knocked down a strong layup to seal the victory for Biola.
Despite having split the season series one game apiece, the Eagles came in seeded sixth and favored over the seventh seeded Royals. Wednesday night in Santa Clarita was a completely different story. Master’s held the third seed and came in riding a three-game win streak.
Pulling out the win was going to be tough. Eagles definitely needed someone to step up and take charge early.
That is exactly what they got out of Abby Chapman. The freshman guard led Biola to a 27-27 deadlocked first half with 13 points.
With 10 minutes remaining in the game, Master’s took a nine-point lead. A three-point play by all-GSAC junior center Adijat Adams sparked a 14-3 run as Biola took a two-point lead with 6:32 to play. The Mustangs pulled close several times, but Biola held on to upset Masters 56-51 to advance to the semi finals.
Chapman, who had yet to reach double digits scoring this year, finished the game with a season-high 21 points which included going 8-11 from the field and 5-7 from beyond the 3-point line. Adams added 13 points and 13 boards for her 14th double-double on the season, fifth in the last six games. Hill scored 10 on the evening and DeVere rounded out the Eagles’ top performers with eight points and 11 rebounds.
Up next, the Eagles will tip off against nationally ranked Vanguard University this Friday at 7:30 p.m. in Costa Mesa.
Biola may be coming off a struggling regular season, but with two respectable postseason wins under their belt, the Eagles have the potential to be the dark horse moving forward in the tournament. This team might not have had a set identity, but Biola is certainly ready to put what happen during the season behind them and focus on making themselves known as a team ready to take put themselves in contention for the NAIA Championships.
