Senior Adijat Adams fights through two defenders for a jump shot during the game vs. William Jessup University on Dec. 7. The women took home the 'W' while the men's basketball team lost to San Diego on Feb. 11. | Elizabeth Kay/THE CHIMES [file photo]
For most of the 2013-2014 season, men’s basketball has been finding success while the women have struggled to scratch out wins. However, on Tuesday night, it was a completely different story.
Women’s basketball cruised to a 67-55 victory over San Diego Christian College but the men were unable to replicate their success as they fell to the Hawks in the final seconds, 73-70.
Ladies ride second half momentum
The Biola women’s win puts the Eagles’ season record at 9-16 overall and 4-5 in Golden State Athletic Conference play.
The Eagles did not get off to a good start in the first half. Biola was down for the majority of the half until junior forward Elizabeth Munger put up a jumper to tie the game at 13 in the last five minutes of the half.
The Eagles were not able to push forward and take the lead during the first half though as the Hawks led Biola 26-20 going into halftime.
Biola continued fighting for the lead in the second half. Although the Eagles had tied the game up three times in the first six minutes of the half they were not able to get a secure lead.
After keeping the game within reach for much of the game, the Eagles finally broke free. Senior center Adijat Adams gave Biola a two-point lead off of a fast break with 11 minutes left to play. A minute later freshman guard Shonnell Hoyt was fouled by forward Alexa Davison. Hoyt made both of her free throws to put Biola in the lead 42-38.
The Eagles were able to keep their lead and end the game on top at 67-55. Biola outscored the Hawks 47-29 in the second half. 18 of those points came from Adams.
Men fall in final minutes
Although the men’s team was able to stay close to San Diego Christian throughout the entire game, the Eagles fell 73-70 within the last seconds of the game.
In the first half Biola stayed within a few points of the Hawks and got their first lead of the game four minutes into the game. The lead did not last long, however, and Biola fought to take the lead back from the Hawks. Biola was only two points behind SDCC when the first half ended 31-29.
In the second half, things were looking good for Biola, who had taken a steady lead in the first six minutes of the half 42-35. The Hawks recovered quickly and were up 69-61 with a minute left to play.
Freshman guard Dakari Archer made two essential three-pointers and a single free throw within the last minute to put the Eagles behind the Hawks by only a point 69-68.
The Hawks took advantage of fouls and stepped up to the free throw line to put their lead at 71-68. With only 15 seconds left to play, Archer once again put Biola within one point of San Diego Christian with a layup. However Hawks’ guard Rafael Rodriguez once again got the chance to step up to the line and put the Hawks’ lead at 73-70.
Junior guard Colin Bossio tried to tie up the game with four seconds left on the clock but was not able to make it. Archer got the rebound and tried to put up another three at the last second but the shot, like the Eagles, fell short.
The loss puts the men’s season at 15-10 overall and 5-3 in conference play.
The Eagles will go up against the Master’s College at home on Feb.15, starting at 5:30 p.m. for the women and 7:30 for the men.