LA MIRADA, Calif. -- For the past 2 seasons, Allison Box and Catherine Solorio combined to form one of the most entertaining shooting backcourts in the GSAC.  Tonight, they provided the packed Chase Gymnasium with a scene as entertaining as any of the past 2 seasons, only this year they did it in separate uniforms.
 
Box, the holder of nearly every Cougar 3-point record in just 2 seasons and transferred to Biola from Azusa Pacific during the summer, led the Eagles with 18 points, including 4 three-pointers.  However, Solorio teamed up with GSAC Player of the Year Jacqueline Godoy to lead the Cougars to an impressive 75-64 road GSAC victory.
 
Godoy led all players with 21 points, but it was Solorio who came up with huge buckets in the clutch for the Cougars on her way to 17.
 
Just when the Cougars were facing their largest deficit of 8 points, Solorio came up with 5 straight points to bring the Cougars within 2.  Then, she put the game away with a lay-up and the ensuing free throw with 1:16 left, giving the Cougars an insurmountable 70-60 lead.
 
"We just wanted to play our game tonight, but we didn't even put together a 40-minute ballgame," said the All-GSAC guard Solorio.  "We were looking to get into an offensive rhythm, and we didn't want to settle for just outside shots, we wanted to pound it inside.  We were excited to play (against Box). Even though, she transferred we're still friends.  But when we get on the court, it's all business as we are trying to win another GSAC title."
 
Box came out of the locker room red hot, hitting back-to-back treys and a turn around jumper for the first 8 points of a 10-0 Biola surge, giving the Eagles a 42-35 lead, its first since leading 4-2 in the first 2 minutes.
 
Solorio then went to work, canning an easy 10-footer and a three-pointer from the baseline to bring the Cougars back to within 2 (42-40) with 13:37 to go.
 
After the teams traded baskets, and the Cougars trailed by one (46-45), Marcene Guerrero kick started a 10-3 Cougar run with a 17-footer with 10:55 remaining, giving the Cougars the lead again 47-46. By the time the dust had settled, the Cougars led 55-49 with 6:09 to go. Biola answered with 5 straight points to close to within one (55-54) with 5:28 to play.  They got no closer as the Cougars outscored the Eagles, 20-10, in the final 5 minutes.
 
"We needed to execute our game plan better," said interim head coach Matt Elofson.  "The first part of the second half and most of the first half, we weren't able to take care of the ball, and we played poorly in transition.  Jacqueline and Cat played well down the stretch, and that enabled our offense to find a rhythm."
 
Leading 14-11 early in the game, the Cougars went on a 7-0 spurt to push the lead up to 21-11 with 10:52 to play in the half.  Biola's Sarah Baird hit a 3-pointer, and Box added 5 points to key a 12-6 Eagle run, bringing Biola back to within 4 (27-23) with 4:30 to play.  The Eagles would get no closer until Box drilled a one-handed 3-point desperation heave at the buzzer to make the halftime score 35-32 Cougars.
 
Godoy added 6 rebounds and 3 assists to go along with her game-high 21 points.  Senior Ruth Taylor added 13 points, hitting 5 of her 6 shots.  Senior All-GSAC Stephanie Patten chipped in with 7 points and a game-high 8 rebounds. The Cougars shot 49% (26-for-53) from the floor and forced Biola into 27 turnovers, scoring 36 points off of them.
 
With the victory, Azusa Pacific improves to 11-4 overall, 5-2 in the GSAC.  Biola falls to 8-5 overall, 2-5 in the GSAC.