Lions finish the job

Down by as many as seven points, Vanguard scores a season-best 61 points in the second half and tops Westmont.SANTA BARBARA -- Westmont College’s women’s basketball team took Vanguard University to the limit for almost 28 minutes. The rest of the game, however, was all Lions.

Vanguard scored a season-best 61 points in the second half and finished with a 99-84 victory in Golden State Athletic Conference play Tuesday night. Kelly Schmidt and Jessica Richter each scored 30 points for the Lions, who have already clinched the conference title.

The 61 points were the most for Vanguard in one half all season, surpassing the Lions’ previous best of 57 points in their season opener Nov. 12 against William Jessup University.

A little more than a month after Vanguard -- ranked No. 1 in NAIA Division I -- crushed the Warriors, 69-33, in their previous meeting, Westmont gave the visiting Lions all they could handle in the first half.

Meghan O’Donoghue scored 16 of her 19 points in the first half for the Warriors, including four three-pointers. Her final one beat the halftime buzzer and gave the Warriors a 41-38 lead at the break.

The Lions (22-0, 15-0 in conference) continued to trail into the second half, as Danielle Russell’s jumper gave Westmont a 59-54 lead with 13:55 remaining.

Lacey Burns responded with a three-pointer at the other end, sparking a 23-8 run over the next six minutes that gave Vanguard a 77-67 lead. The Warriors cut the deficit to eight points, but the Lions came back with a 14-1 outburst for a 93-72 lead with 4:07 left in the game.

Vanguard never led by less than 14 points the rest of the way.

The Lions tandem of Schmidt and Richter shot a combined 21 of 34 from the field. Schmidt added four rebounds, and Richter chipped in with seven rebounds and six three-pointers.

Rachel Besse added 14 points and seven rebounds before fouling out. Burns had 10 points and six rebounds.

For Westmont (12-13, 7-9), Ali Mooty scored a team-high 22 points and had five rebounds. Megan Fate added 17 points, nine assists and five rebounds for the Warriors.

Vanguard returns home for a Thursday afternoon game against Fresno Pacific. The Sunbirds are 10th in the Golden State Athletic Conference, but defeated Biola, 63-58, on Tuesday.

Golden State Athletic Conference

Vanguard 99, Westmont 84

Score by Halves