LA MIRADA, Calif. – Women's basketball tipped off 2026 with a 60-52 win over Biola on Saturday evening at Chase Gymnasium. Though VU led for 30 of the 40 minutes played, the Lions' eight-point victory was tested by a season-low 33.9% (20-59) field goal percentage. The Blue and Gold would outlast their obstacles, however with a 15-0 third-quarter run, and mark their best shooting quarter in the final 10 minutes to pull out the road win.

Vanguard improves to 8-1 and 4-0 in the Pacific West Conference. Biola falls 5-5 and 2-3 in the league.

On their return from the holiday season, two Lions broke double-figures with Emma Schaaf and Kaylee Byon leading the way. Schaaf was one rebound shy of her ninth career double-double as the sophomore sported 16 points, nine rebounds, and a season-high four blocks. She also marked her 75th career block in the win. The forward went 50% (7-14) from the floor and hit two of her four three-point efforts. Byon played a game-high 37 minutes and delivered 15 points, a season-high seven assists, as well as four steals.

Freshman Micaela Hanning scored seven points and seven rebounds, while also adding three dimes. The trio of Jaryn Madsen, Aryanna Hudson, and Shayla O'Neil all tallied six points apiece to help secure the result.

Biola's Grace Moyers led all scorers, with the transfer netting a career-best 21 points on a scalding 7-12 from three-point range.

What Happened? Despite the holiday hiatus, both teams appeared fresh off opening tip with a herd of three-point buckets between them for a fast 6-5 BU start. Madsen sank the trey from the left wing for VU, while Moyers drained both Eagle three-balls from each corner.

The sharp-shooting start for the pair of PacWest competitors, however, would not be sustained. They each went on to suffer their worst field goal quarter percentages of the match, with the Lions going just 4-16 (25%) and Biola stalling at 21% (3-14) from the floor.  

The Eagles missed eight of their final nine field goals in the quarter, while VU limped to an eight-point lead (16-8), staving off the shooting slump with a cluster of made free throws (6-7) and a Halle Si'i layup down the lane.

Biola was back after it in the second quarter, drafting a deadly 11-0 run to take a three-point lead, 19-16.  The Lions struggled in the period, and finally scored with 2:25 left until the halftime break. Byon answered the call after collecting the chest-high pass from Hudson and sinking the three to level the score (19-19). It was VU's first field goal make in eight tries.

The Lions ended proceedings on a 7-2 run as Byon pinched a 15-footer for the 26-21 Vanguard lead.

The Lions opened the second half with a commanding Schaaf block down low, sending Hanning on her way to push the floor and find Madsen for the easy corner three-pointer.

The three-ball was the first of eight three-pointers made by both sides in the quarter, providing a change in overall tempo. Biola adjusted through Moyers, who inched the Eagles forward as she stepped into a three from the left wing. BU hit back-to-back treys to regain the lead (30-29 BU) with 7:31 remaining.

The Blue and Gold shook off the resistance with a 15-0 run, holding the Eagles scoreless for nearly seven minutes of gametime to take their largest lead (44-30). Schaaf provided the primary punch in the push, tallying 10 of the points, including a pair of threes at the top of the key and two quickfire buckets in transition. Moyers brought Biola back into the fold with two three-pointers in a 32-second span for a 44-36 VU game on the way to the fourth.

VU started and finished the fourth quarter with an eight-point cushion, having their best shooting quarter (50% 6-12) despite going just 1-7 from deep.

O'Neil got the ball rolling with a gentle paint point, courtesy of the Si'i feed (46-36 VU). The Eagles piled a 5-0 run to spark interest in flipping the score, but Schaaf and Byon had the answers, finding buckets for the Lions going the other way. Hanning and Byon helped settle the ship down stretch, with Hanning clipping five straight points, to put the Lions back up by double-figures (56-46) and Byon tacked on the final touches at the free throw line to grant VU their first official road win of the campaign.

What's Next? The Lions head back home to welcome Westmont on Tuesday, January 6, at 5:30 pm.