LA MIRADA, Calif. --- All season long the biggest stories on both sides of the ball for Biola basketball have come from Adijat Adams and Andre Murillo. The two versatile seniors were rewarded for their skill and strength with All-GSAC nods.
This is the second consecutive all-conference honor awarded to Adams, who also attained recognition as an NAIA All-American third team player last season.
She has had a fabulous conclusion to her Biola career with a dominant senior season. Adams will go down as one of the greatest women’s basketball players to ever don a Biola uniform when all is said and done, as she is one of just seven players all-time who has eclipsed the 1,500-point mark.
“Adijat is a difference-maker on the court both offensively and defensively,” said Head Coach Dr. Bethany Miller. “She has grown each year into a more talented and efficient student-athlete both on and off the court. I have greatly appreciated her depth of love and loyalty to her teammates and to our program.”
Adams leads the Eagles into the postseason with a gaudy stat line. She averages 16.4 points per game and 10.9 rebounds per game. She has fought hard at both ends of the court to net 21 double-doubles over the course of the regular season. That leaves just nine games without a double-double. Wow.
Adams led the league with her rebounding average and was also in the top four in the conference in scoring and field goal percentage, helping her consistently pop up in some of the most important statistical measures.
However, her dominance and work ethic can also be noticed by her ability to show up in the top of the rankings for free throw percentage, steals and blocks.
She has been at around the same level of scoring and shooting percentage from the field this season, but has made huge adjustments at the free-throw line and in her rebounding, blocking and defensive game with added steals. She has worked to consistently improve to make this season her best and draw a lot of attention from opponents.
“Adijat makes teams adjust the way they play us defensively,” said Miller. “As we head into the postseason I know Adijat will lead the team with excellence and show her passion for the game. She will show her desire for our team to compete at our fullest potential.
Adams will lead the Eagles into battle Wednesday night at 7:30 p.m. at Hope International for the GSAC Tournament First Round.
Murillo was Biola’s lone All-GSAC honoree on the men’s side. The big man out of Lake Forest, Calif. earned his first all-conference honor after a stellar season of scoring and rebounding everything.
He was a huge piece of Biola’s approach offensively and defensively, but also served as a great representative off the court. This season he became Biola men’s basketball’s first-ever CoSIDA/Capital One Academic All-American.
“Andre has had a very good two-year career for us,” said Head Coach Dr. Dave Holmquist. “He has been a strong scorer and rebounder, but he has also been a great representative of the program.”
Murillo averaged 15.9 points per game in the 2013-14 regular season, and he also nabbed 9.4 boards per contest over the course of 28 games.
He served as one of the senior vocal and emotional leaders for the team, especially encouraging his teammates when he had to miss a few games near the end of the conference season due to injury.
He returned to the roster just in time to help the Eagles secure the No. 4 seed and home court advantage heading into this week’s Golden State Athletic Conference tournament.
“I think that what is most important in his life is his relationship with the Lord,” said Holmquist. “He has been very enjoyable to work with and I think very highly of him. He has a great future ahead of him.”
Murillo led the GSAC this season in rebounding, and it was not even close. The second-place man averaged a full 1.5 boards per game fewer than he did.
He was also near the top of the list in scoring, field goal percentage, free throw percentage and, perhaps surprisingly, assists.
Murillo and his squad host the No. 5 seed, Westmont, inside Chase Gym on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m.
Both awards were presented by Under-Armour.