Complete Box Score

SEATTLE (Nov. 18) ­ Beth Christensen came off the bench for 12 points, including a key three-pointer in the second half, as No. 3-ranked Seattle Pacific University survived a rare scare at home, beating Biola 77-68 in the first round of the Sodexho Tip-Off Classic Friday night at Brougham Pavilion.

Mandy Wood (Sr., 5-6, Port Angeles, Wa.) led the Falcons (2-0) with 20 points and Jenny Poe (Sr., 5-8, Enumclaw, Wa.) had 13. SPU has now won 33 straight at home, but Biola is one of only two visitors to come within nine points during the streak.

After the Eagles (0-1) rallied from a 23-point first-half deficit to trail by only one point, Christenen (So., 5-5, Enumclaw, Wa.) sank a 21-footer from the left side to spark an 8-0 burst.

Autumn Fielding (Jr., 5-9, Kennewick, Wa.) followed with trey from the right side and a baseline jumper to make it 65-56. Biola got no closer than seven the rest of the way.

Seattle Pacific started strong, taking command with a 26-2 run. Wood stroked three of her four three-pointers during the spree, which put the Falcons in front 29-6 after 12 minutes.

Biola fought back after halftime. Linda Ogugua, the Eagles' 6-foot-6 center, scored nine of her game-high 24 points in the first 10 minutes of the second half, and Rochelle Crawford's basket made it 57-56 in favor of SPU with 9:07 left.

Christensen's scoring total was a career high. She also had four steals and six rebounds. Wood was 8-12 from the field.

Ogugua's 13 rebounds helped the Eagles win the battle of the boards, 39-31 Crawford finished with 12 points.

SPU plays Minnesota State Moorhead in the final game of the tournament Saturday at 5. Biola will face Central Washington at 1.