Another close call for Lions

Vanguard clinches the Golden State Athletic Conference regular season crown despite trailing with less than four minutes to go against The Master’s.SANTA CLARITA -- Vanguard University sealed the Golden State Athletic Conference’s regular season title in women’s basketball, doing it the hard way.

Jessica Richter scored the tying and go-ahead baskets as the Lions escaped with a 50-46 victory over The Master’s on Saturday night. Vanguard, ranked No. 1 in NAIA Division I, set a season-low for points, but has a four-game lead over second-place Point Loma Nazarene with three contests remaining.

Richter tied the score at 46-46 on a layup with 3:02 remaining in the second half. After the Mustangs missed two shots, Richter came back and hit a jump shot at the 2:20 mark to put Vanguard ahead.

The Lions (22-0, 15-0 in conference) then put the pressure on, forcing The Master’s point guard Grace Tappe into three consecutive turnovers. Jenn Ayers-Stamper missed a desperation three-pointer for the Mustangs and Lacey Burns turned the rebound into an insurance basket as time ran out.

Richter finished with 12 points and five steals for Vanguard, and Rachel Besse added 12 points and eight rebounds.

The Lions won the first meeting between the teams, 94-74, on Jan. 7 at home, but Saturday’s game was significantly different. The Master’s -- ranked No. 17 in the nation -- took control early, leading by as many as nine points in the first half. Late baskets by Kelly Schmidt and Richter trimmed Vanguard’s deficit to three points at halftime.

The second half was a slugfest, with four ties and nine lead changes. The largest lead for either team in the half was four points.

Besse’s back-to-back layups gave Vanguard a 44-40 lead with 6:09 remaining before The Master’s chipped away. Ayers-Stamper hit a free throw, Tappe made a pair and Ayers-Stamper drained a three-pointer with 3:26 to go, giving the Mustangs a 46-44 lead and setting up the final three minutes. Vanguard committed an uncustomary 19 turnovers, one more than the Mustangs. The Lions did shoot 60% from the field in the second half (12 of 20) and held The Master’s to seven baskets after halftime.

Burns chipped in with nine points and four assists for Vanguard. Schmidt and Andrea Jacobson each added six point and six rebounds.

Kinsley Mittel led The Master’s (17-7, 9-6) with 14 points and grabbed six rebounds. Courtney Jackson added 10 points and seven rebounds.

Vanguard hits the road again Tuesday, traveling to Westmont College for a 5:30 p.m. game. The Lions then return home for a Thursday tilt against Fresno Pacific.

Golden State

Athletic Conference

Vanguard 50,

The Master’s 46

Score by Halves