LA MIRADA, Calif. - In the lone earlier meeting between the Concordia Eagles and the Biola Eagles, the game was predictably close.  On paper, the two teams are evenly matched, and when they met at CU Arena in December, the game came down to the wire.  In the end, Biola came out on top, beating Concordia 68-67 in overtime.  In the second round of the battle of the Eagles, the game was again a thriller, but this time the result was different.

CUI started slow on offense.  Over the first seven minutes, they scored only six points, two each from Jasmine Rachal, Michaela VanderKlugt, and Kennedy Fulcher.  Concordia finished strong, however.  After Fulcher brought the Eagles within five with a pair of free throws to bring the score to 11-6, she finished the quarter with a spurt to push the Eagles ahead.  Fulcher knocked in a pair of free throws, Friauf added two more free throws of her own, and then Fulcher hit a three to give CUI the lead at the end of one, 13-11.

In the second quarter, it was the Biola Eagles who came out hot.  They scored the first five points of the quarter to retake the lead, but Concordia came right back.  CUI started to warm up on the offensive end, and they went on a 10-2 run midway through the second quarter.  During the run, the Eagles spread the wealth.  Fulcher and Friauf each hit short jumpers, and Rachal and Grace Smith were each able to knock in shots from beyond the three point line.  Despite the run, Biola wasn't going away.  They scored the final six points of the quarter and cut CUI's halftime lead to just one, 27-26.  In the first half, each team shot 33.3 percent from the floor.

The two teams continued to show they were worthy adversaries in the second half, as neither team was able to pull away from the other.  The third quarter saw both teams struggle on the offensive end.  CUI was only able to muster up 14 points in the third, but they did extend their lead, holding Biola to just 12.  CUI led by as much as six, but just as they had done in the second quarter, Biola made a late run to close the quarter.  At the end of three, CUI led 41-38.

The fourth quarter, like much of the game, was filled with mini-runs.  Just minutes into the quarter, Concordia was able to extend their lead to eight, their largest lead yet.  A three by Rachal and a layup by VanderKlugt on the opening two possessions for the Eagles pushed their lead to 46-38, but Biola came right back.  A quick 8-0 run tied the score, and any breathing room CUI thought they had was gone.  The game continued to go back and forth the rest of the way.  For every shot made by Concordia, there was Biola to answer.  With Concordia leading by one with under 40 seconds to play, Mikayla Green of Biola got to the basket and knocked in a layup to put the home team on top by one.  Biola then got a stop, and Danita Estorga knocked in two free throws to put Biola up 61-58 with 14 seconds remaining.  Concordia may have been in a tough spot, but they weren't out.  With 11 seconds left, Rachal knocked in a three pointer, tying the game, and after a miss at the buzzer by Biola, the game fittingly went to overtime.

In the OT period, Concordia played their finest basketball.  Fulcher opened up the scoring with a three pointer, and the Eagles never looked back.  Friauf, VanderKlugt, and Katie Timmerman all got in on the scoring action in OT and the Eagles finally pulled away.  The final score was Concordia 72, Biola 63.

CUI shot 40.7 percent from the floor in the second half and knocked in seven three pointers.  In OT, they knocked in half their shots from the field and were perfect from beyond the arc.  For the night, CUI outrebounded Biola 44-40, and were led by their two dependable forwards.  Fulcher finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds.  VanderKlugt finished with 15 points and 13 rebounds. 

The Eagles return home on Saturday, taking on Hawaii Hilo at 5:30 PM at CU Arena.

For the full women's basketball schedule, click here