Lions in Elite Eight

The Vanguard University women’s basketball team made school history

with a resounding 70-54 victory over Transylvania (Kentucky) in the

Sweet 16 of the NAIA National Championships at the Oman Arena Friday.

The Lions, making their fifth appearance in the NAIA tournament,

are in the quarterfinals for the first time in their history.

“It’s an awesome feeling,” Vanguard Coach Russ Davis said in a

telephone interview. “To be picked to finish ninth in (the Golden

State Athletic Conference) by the coaches and then to make it to the

final eight in the country is just excellent. This is the first time

in GSAC history a team has made it this far in the NAIA tournament.

We’re just a team of destiny.”

Vanguard, the No. 2 seed in the fourth-quarter bracket, will face

fifth-seeded Oklahoma Christian (21-11) tonight at 6 CST. Okahoma

Christian upset top-seeded Union of Tennessee, 65-64.

Four players scored in double figures for Vanguard (27-9), led by

5-foot-7 senior guard Robbin Dittenbir, who scored a game-high 20

points. Dittenbir, who earned All-GSAC honors during the season, also

grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds and dished out four assists.

Dittenbir was 6 of 9 from the field, including 3 for 3 from

three-point range.

“Robbin made some big shots,” Davis said. “Our seniors have been

really stepping up. Paulette Seaman came off the bench and had seven

rebounds and that was a big contribution for us. I’m just really

proud of my kids.”

Senior Laura Lee added 12 points, sophomore point guard Lacey

Mills (3 for 5 from threedom) scored 11 and sophomore Jennifer Wilcox

contributed 10 points.

The Lions, the GSAC regular-season champions, never trailed. The

Pioneers (24-5) came as close as 13-10 with 11:14 left in the first

half. That’s when Davis called a timeout. Davis’ squad outscored

Transylvania, 19-3, to close out the half and gained a 32-13 lead.

The Pioneers hit just 5 of 33 from the field (15.2%) in the first

half. Transylvania warmed up in the second half (15 of 29, 51.7%) and

finished the game 32% from the field. The Lions were 45% from the

field (25 of 55), and 41.2% from beyond the three-point line (7 of

17).

Vanguard also outrebounded Transylvania, 46-33.

The Lions maintained their 19-point advantage through most of the

second half. But the Pioneers, the sixth seed in the fourth-quarter

bracket, managed to come within 61-54 with 2:03 remaining after

back-to-back three-pointers by sophomore guard Katie Boaz and senior

guar Nikki Young (13 points).

However, the Lions ended the game with a 9-0 run, including five

points from senior center Courtney McKinney.