GREENSBORO (Interstat) — Biola defeated visiting Azusa Pacific 59-42 Monday in a non-divisional women’s NCAA Division III game at Hanes Gym in Greensboro, N.C. Attendance was 344. Azusa Pacific’s season record is now 0-1. The Cougars scored 42 points from 69 possessions for an offensive rating of 61.0.

Maryah Anderson opened the scoring with a 3-pointer at 9:30 of the first quarter, and Laney Grider answered with a 3-pointer for Biola. Ronnie Herrmann made a layup to give Azusa Pacific a 5-3 lead, but Ella Fritts hit a 3-pointer, and Laney Grider and Hanne Nybo followed with baskets to give Biola a 10-5 lead. Vanessa Parilla made a driving layup and Anderson hit another 3-pointer to tie the score at 10. Aliyah Bantolina made a driving layup and Ella Fritts hit a 3-pointer to give Biola a 15-10 lead after one quarter. Biola took the lead for good on Bantolina’s driving layup with 1:36 left in the first quarter.

Anderson made a jump shot early in the second quarter, but Alyssa Kubo and Laney Grider answered with driving layups. Herrmann scored inside, and Ella Fritts made a layup to push Biola’s lead to 21-14. Biola extended its advantage in the third quarter. Aliyah Bantolina and Ella Fritts opened the second half with driving layups. Anderson made two free throws and a 3-pointer, Jaycee Goldsmith hit a 3-pointer, and Anderson hit another 3-pointer. Herrmann made two free throws, and Sienna Capelli’s tip-in, Laney Grider’s jump shot, Capelli’s driving layup and two free throws and Grider’s driving layup gave Biola a 38-26 lead. Herrmann made a jump shot before the end of the third quarter.

Herrmann opened the fourth quarter with two straight layups to cut the deficit to 30-38. Sienna Capelli made a tip-in, Petra Falcocchia made a turnaround jumper, Alyssa Kubo made a driving layup, Hanne Nybo made a layup and two free throws, and Laney Grider made two free throws to make it 48-32. Biola led by at least 13 points the rest of the way. Vanessa Parilla hit a 3-pointer, Laney Grider made a layup, Riley Baquiran made a layup, Aliyah Bantolina made a driving layup, Hanne Nybo made a jump shot, Olivia Martinez hit a 3-pointer, Alyssa Kubo hit a 3-pointer, Herrmann made two free throws and Sienna Capelli made a jump shot to close the scoring.

Herrmann finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and four blocks in 37 minutes. Anderson had 16 points, two rebounds and one block in 32 minutes. Petra Falcocchia added two points, six rebounds and three blocks in 22 minutes. Vanessa Parilla contributed five points, five rebounds and three assists in 28 minutes. Olivia Martinez scored three points in 17 minutes. Riley Baquiran had two points, two rebounds and one assist in 20 minutes. Samantha Cantos pulled down two rebounds in 12 minutes. Alana Diaz had one rebound in seven minutes. Gwenny Hardersen had one assist in six minutes. Adilee Makasakit played one minute.

Azusa Pacific had eight offensive rebounds, 11 assists, eight blocks and 12 turnovers. Biola held a 36-18 advantage in points in the paint. The Cougars scored 14 points off turnovers, while Biola scored 17 points off turnovers.

Azusa Pacific next plays at Master’s on Nov. 10, then visits Hawaii Pacific on Nov. 21 and Chaminade on Nov. 23. The Cougars also are scheduled to play Hawaii Pacific on Nov. 24, California Lutheran on Nov. 30, Redlands on Dec. 2, Claremont Mudd Scripps on Dec. 12, Linfield on Dec. 16, Pacific of Oregon on Dec. 17 and George Fox on Dec. 19.