By Ron Smith
December 9, 2023
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) It was nearly a comeback story for the ages. Westmont Women's Basketball (5-5, 2-2 PacWest) fell just short of completing the storybook ending, falling to Biola (5-5, 1-1) by a score of 50-49 on Saturday night in Murchison Gymnasium.
 
The 42nd meeting of the two teams was the first in seven seasons, renewing a rivalry that was interrupted when Biola transitioned to Division II. Now that Westmont has made that same transition, the rivalry has returned.
 
Both teams struggled offensively in the early going. Three minutes into the game, Westmont freshman Kristan Yumul drained a three for the first points of the game. Then, Giulia Abraham stole the ball and scored on a layup to put the Warriors up 5-0.
 
A minute later, Biola's Alyssa Kubo got the Eagles on the board with a triple of her own. Two more minutes passed before Kubo struck again from beyond the arc, giving Biola a 6-5 advantage.
 
One minute later, Madi Bogan connected from long distance. Then, Bailey Fong hit a jumper with just over a minute remaining in the opening frame to put the Warriors on top 10-6.
 
As time was running out, Biola's Laila Walker dribbled to the three-point line and fired off a buzzer beater to pull Biola within one (10-9) heading into the second quarter. As it turned out, those three points were the first of 17 by Biola that were unanswered by Westmont.
 
The Warriors did not score again until 3:42 remaining in the second quarter. That is when Bogan's second triple of the game pulled the Warriors to within 10 (23-13). By halftime, however, the Eagles had pushed their advantage to 14 (29-15).
 
As second-half play opened up, Westmont scored the first five points to pull within nine (29-20). The Eagles responded, however, with a 7-0 run and took their largest lead of the game (36-20) on a jumper by Kubo with 4:21 left in the penultimate period.
 
That is when Westmont began whittling away at Biola's advantage. With two triples by Sage Kramer, another by Bogan and a layup by Aleena Cook, the Warriors finished off the third quarter on a 11-4 run, making the score 40-31 headed into the final frame.
 
The Warriors continued to draw closer throughout the fourth quarter and with 1:41 to play, Fong pulled up for a long two, positioning Westmont within one possession (50-47).
 
Neither team scored for the next minute and 35 seconds. Then with 4 seconds remaining in regulation, Kramer launched a contested three. When the ball bounced off the front of the rim, Bogan grabbed the offensive rebound and put up a shot from the paint that made the score 50-49 with 0.8 seconds left on the game clock.
 
Biola called timeout, then elected to advance the ball into their front court. However, The inbound pass went untouched and past the baseline resulting in a change of possession with no time taken off the clock.
 
Kirsten Moore, Westmont's head coach, immediately called timeout and also elected to advance the ball into the front court. The veteran coach drew up an inbounds play that, if successful, would have given the Warriors the lead. The inbound pass, however, was deflected away by a Biola defender from its intended target and Westmont never got the opportunity to put up what would have been a game-winning shot.
 
Kramer, Fong and Bogan each scored 11 points to lead the Warriors. Kramer also had eight rebounds. Cook led Westmont on the boards with nine rebounds while also contributing five points.
 
The Warriors will take a break for final exams next week before resuming play next Saturday with a PacWest game against Point Loma Nazarene (5-4, 1-0). Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.