<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=1yzQIz_1H4XC8Ma00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1yzQIz_1H4XC8Ma00" width="1200" height="800" ><figcaption>Photo courtesy of Biola Athletics</figcaption></figure><p>Wrapping up the home opener of the 2026-27 season, Biola’s women’s basketball team clinched a victory against longtime rivals, Azusa Pacific University (APU). While this game was defensive heavy for both sides, the Eagles were able to come out on top in a close 59-42 victory over the Cougars.</p><p>The Eagles are coming off of a 13-14 season, and finished eighth place in the PacWest Conference. While they did not have the best season, the Eagles also lost to APU in both of their games. For APU’s farewell season in the PacWest they placed third with an overall record of 23-10. As the Eagles headed into their home opener, it was not only going to be an early test for their team, but the final time to compete against their rival.</p><p>For this home opener, the student section went all out to bring as much energy as they could to the atmosphere of Chase Gymnasium. From the white-out theme to the free Biola merch being handed out, everyone was showing their Eagle pride to take the win against APU.</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=03BflX_1H4XC8Ma00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=03BflX_1H4XC8Ma00" width="2001" height="1334" ><figcaption>Photo courtesy of Biola Athletics</figcaption></figure><p>Senior business administration major, Josiah Johnson, has been given the role to bring student engagement to all of the home athletic events, and he speaks of how much of a difference the student section had brought to all sorts of events. Since this wasn’t just any ordinary home opening game, Johnson wanted to make sure the student section was packed and ready for tip-off.</p><p>“Student engagement this year has been incredible for athletics, a lot of the players were saying they’ve never seen so many people at the games, they never felt like there were so many supporters, they feel like the atmosphere is different, energy is crazy, so it’s like a testament to what we’ve been doing and it’s really great to be a part of it” Johnson said.</p><h2>Eagles on top at home</h2><p>For both teams, defense was the name of the game, as they were able to hold each other from shooting under 50% from the field. That did not stop the Eagles from scoring, as senior business administrative major and guard, Laney Grider, was crucial to their win against APU. Grider was the highest scoring player for this game with 15 points put up on the board.</p><p>While Grider played a great game, the bench played a huge role to contribute with the win. In total, off the bench, they were able to tally up 28 points on the score board, with notable performances by senior business administrative major, Hanne Løkkebø Nybø, and freshman liberal studies elementary education major, Sienna Capelli. Nybø was able to put eight points on the board, and Capelli ten points. </p><p>Outside of just the points that the Eagles scored, the team ensured that they got every offensive possession they could. Throughout all four quarters they were able to grab 56 rebounds and maintained their offensive attacks.</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=2OapjQ_1H4XC8Ma00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=2OapjQ_1H4XC8Ma00" width="1334" height="2001" ><figcaption>Photo courtesy of Biola Athletics</figcaption></figure><h2>Heavy aggression start</h2><p>Entering the first half of play, the Eagles were able to shut the Cougars down to only 14 points. That just gives enough credit to show how the defense was playing throughout all four quarters. The Eagles were able to put 21 points up on the board — still a fairly low number — but goes to show the lock down defense APU was applying all game towards Biola’s offense. While this was a very defensive game, it was a very technical game for them, out of the first half there were only two recorded shooting fouls, going in favor for APU.</p><h2>Final stretch for the Eagles</h2><p>For the second half of play the Eagles were able to shut down APU, outshooting them 38-28. This is a testament to the defense of Biola because throughout this game, they only allowed APU to score five points from players off the bench. In total both defenses were able to record 34 turnovers and off of those turnovers Biola scored 17 points and APU had themselves 14 points off of the turnovers.</p><h2>Sweet sweet victory</h2><p>With APU officially being out of the PacWest Conference, a win against your long-term rival is always a great way to enter the season, especially when it was a home game to open the official basketball season up. The Eagles will make the trip out to Irvine California for the CCAA crossover tournament, where they play on Nov. 13-14 at Concordia Irvine University.</p></div></body>

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Wrapping up the home opener of the 2026-27 season, Biola’s women’s basketball team clinched a victory against longtime rivals, Azusa Pacific University (APU). While this game was defensive heavy for both sides, the Eagles were able to come out on top in a close 59-42 victory over the Cougars.

A rivalry back on the court

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Wrapping up the home opener of the 2026-27 season, Biola’s women’s basketball team clinched a victory against longtime rivals, Azusa Pacific University (AP

A rivalry back on the court

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