PHOENIX, Ariz. – Biola University (14-15, 4-9 GSAC) moved into a three-way tie for fifth place in the Golden State Athletics Conference standings with a 79-55 GSAC women's basketball victory over eighth-place Arizona Christian University (4-21, 0-13 GSAC), Tuesday, February 19, in ACU's Fultz Memorial Gymnasium in Phoenix. 

Coached by Jerry Conner, ACU hosts a 5:30 p.m. GSAC game at Concordia University (6-20, 4-9 GSAC), Saturday, Feb. 23, in CU Arena in Irvine, Calif. The ACU men's basketball team plays the 7:30 game of Saturday's GSAC doubleheader against Concordia. After losing Tuesday to the number four-ranked NAIA team and first-place GSAC team, Westmont College (23-3, 13- 0 GSAC), 85-55, Concordia now is tied for fifth place in the GSAC race with Biola and Hope International University (12-16, 4-9 GSAC). 

In Tuesday's other GSAC women's basketball action, number 11-ranked Master's College (24-4, 9-4 GSAC), the third-place team in the GSAC, upset second-place Vanguard University (20-3, 10-3 GSAC), which is tied for the number seven NAIA ranking, by a score of 76-65 in Santa Clarita, Calif. Fourth-place San Diego Christian College (16-13, 8-5 GSAC) defeated Hope International, 66-53, in Fullerton, Calif. 

The fifth-place team in the GSAC hosts the eighth-place team and the number six seed hosts the number seven seed in first-round GSAC Tournament games, Monday, Feb. 25. Arizona Christian travels for its first-round game, but the opponent and time are yet to be determined. 

Biola led by as many as eight points in the first half, 26-18, with 7:47 left before intermission, but Arizona Christian outscored the Eagles, 16-6, in the last 7:37 of the half and led 34-32 at halftime. Junior guard Jubilee Sutherland (Glennallen, Alaska/Glennallen H.S./Eastern Wyoming CC) scored all 11 of her points in the first half, including five points with one three- pointer during ACU's late first-half run, and sophomore forward Sarah Beth Hock (Gilbert, Ariz./Perry H.S.), ACU's leading scorer and rebounder (12.8 ppg and 7.9 rpg) scored eight 

points and gathered six first-half rebounds. Junior post player Adijat Adams scored 15 points and gathered eight rebounds in the first 20 minutes. 

Biola scored the first eight points and outscored ACU, 14-3, in the first 6:28 of the half and led 46-37 with 13:32 left in the game. ACU trailed by less than 10 points for all of the first 12 minutes of the half, but Biola finally reached a double-digit lead for the first time, 55-45, with 8:06 left and gradually advanced the lead to 20 points, 73-53, with 2:10 left and won by 24 points, 79-55. 

With Adams leading the way with 34 points on 15 of 22 shots, 16 rebounds, two assists, one blocked shot and one steal, Biola outscored ACU, 44-24, in the paint, and 23-13 in second- chance points from offensive rebounds. Biola grabbed 18 offensive rebounds and out-rebounded ACU, 51-37. 

Supporting Adams, Biola guard Becca DeVere finished with 10 points on 5 of 8 shots, seven rebounds, six assists, one blocked shot and four steals, and forward Elizabeth Munger totaled 10 points and five rebounds. Guard Aubree Mittel added six points, 2 three-pointers, five rebounds, three assists and one steal. Reserve guard Abby Chapman scored nine points. 

Hock finished the game with 15 points and six rebounds, two assists, one blocked shot and one steal, and Sutherland totaled 11 points with 3 three-pointers, all in the first half, two rebounds and three assists. In the final home game of her four-year collegiate career, senior guard Jessica Largo (Gallup, N.M./Rehoboth Christian School) scored seven points with one three-pointer, four rebounds, two assists and two steals, and freshman forward Cheyenne Huskey (Glendale, Ariz./Mountain Ridge H.S.) contributed seven points and five rebounds off the ACU bench. Also off the bench, sophomore forward Jamie Heath (Phoenix, Ariz./Thunderbird H.S.) finished with nine points, one three-pointer and nine rebounds. Senior guard Paula Clendaniel (Tucson, Ariz./Cienega H.S./York College/Arizona Western College), also playing the final home game of her career, passed five assists and stole the ball once, but did not score.