Lions take their shots against Transylvania

The Vanguard University women’s basketball team has enjoyed a special

season, thus far. The Lions’ season could become even more

extraordinary today.

Vanguard will face Transylvania (Kentucky) at 4:30 p.m. CST in the

Sweet 16 of the NAIA Division I National Championships at the Oman

Arena. The Lions are trying to win their first Sweet 16 game in their history. Vanguard is making its fifth NAIA tournament appearance and

this is the second time it has reached the Sweet 16 of the 32-team

field.

Vanguard is the No. 2 seed of the fourth-quarter bracket, while

Transylvania is the sixth seed. There are four quarters with eight

teams in each portion in the NAIA tournament.

The Transylvania Pioneers (23-4) are in the Sweet 16 (second

round) for the first time in their history. They advanced after a

57-56 victory over Auburn-Montgomery (Alabama) Thursday morning.

Nikki Young, the Pioneers’ 5-foot-9 senior guard, drained one of

two free throws with four seconds left to give Transylvania the

victory over the Senators Thursday.

Young led the Pioneers with 16 points, while senior Tari Young

added 11 points. Tari Young averages 19.7 points per game. Kelly

Lewis, who contributes 12 points per game, scored seven against

Auburn-Montgomery. Nikki Young is Transylvania’s third-leading scorer

with 11.3 ppg.

The Pioneers were outrebounded, 47-24, and shot 44% (11 of 25)

from the free-throw line, yet still found a way to win.

The Lions (26-9), ranked No. 7 in the NAIA, used a low ranking in

a conference preseason poll to motivate them throughout the season.

Golden State Athletic Conference coaches ranked the Lions ninth in

the 11-team conference. Vanguard went to capture the GSAC

regular-season title and record the most wins in GSAC play in the

conference’s history (18).

Now, the Lions are just out to prove they are playing to their

potential.

Russ Davis, the GSAC Coach of the Year, said his team features a

balanced attack, which is led by senior Robbin Dittenbir (10.6 ppg)

and sophomore Jennifer Wilcox (11.2 ppg). The duo earned All-GSAC

honors during the regular season.

Vanguard is also strengthened by senior forward Courtney McKinney

(8.3), sophomore Lacey Mills (8.3), freshman forward Cecilia

Josefsson (6.5), as well as senior guards Paulette Seaman (6.2) and

Jessica Lenderman (6.2).

Dittenbir scored 11, while senior Laura Lee added 10 points in the Lions’ 62-48 victory over University of Mobile (Alabama) Wednesday.

If the Lions win they would advance to a quarterfinals, or Elite

Eight, Saturday at 6 p.m. CST, and would face the winner of Oklahoma

Christian (20-11) vs. top-seeded Union (34-2), which play tonight at

8.