Lions set up rematch in final

COSTA MESA — The Vanguard University women’s basketball team got what it needed Friday night. But what the Lions want is still three days, 90 miles and 40 relentless minutes from reality.

The latter refers to a rematch with Point Loma Nazarene in the title game of the Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament, set for Monday at the Sea Lions’ gym in San Diego.

The former was an 84-56 romp over visiting Cal Baptist Friday night in a tournament semifinal at The Pit.

Vanguard’s streak of five consecutive regular-season conference titles, as well as its string of 53 straight regular-season conference victories, was halted this season by Point Loma, which rallied to dispatch The Master’s, 75-59, in Friday’s other semifinal.

The Sea Lions trounced the Lions, 86-65, in their first meeting, Jan. 23, in San Diego. GSAC Coach of the Year Bill Westphal’s squad then erased a 20-point deficit with 12:54 remaining to edge host Vanguard, 68-67, on Feb. 26.

Point Loma (27-2) is ranked No. 3 in NAIA Division I, while Vanguard (24-4) is ranked No. 4.

Vanguard assistant coach Kelly Schmidt, who along with fellow assistant John Barney guided the Lions home, after Coach Russ Davis left at halftime due to illness, said the outcome of the other semifinal [with The Master’s leading by 14 at halftime] was the farthest thing from her team’s mind.

But Vanguard senior Melissa Cook, who helped key the victory by amassing 17 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and two steals, didn’t hesitate when asked if she would have been disappointed had Point Loma not advanced to the final.

“I would have,” she said. “I think we all wanted a rematch with Point Loma and we’re excited to be able to go down there and take another shot at them.”

The Lions did not get Cal Baptist’s best shot as the Lancers were without their best player, all-conference junior guard Nicole Davis, who sat on the bench with her left arm in a sling.

Still, the Lions appeared to hold nothing back.

After the Lancers opened a 4-2 lead, Vanguard reeled off a 17-0 run over a span of seven minutes, 17 seconds.

The Lions later led, 29-8, and settled for a 51-29 advantage at halftime. The hosts were 18 of 35 from the field (51.4%) from the field in the first 20 minutes, including seven of 17 from three-point range (41.2%).

In addition to connecting from long range, the Lions were dominating inside, as 6-foot-1 junior Lauren Gregory finished with a game-high 22 points to go with six rebounds.

The Vanguard bench was also huge, as senior Lindsey Rinke produced 14 points in 23 minutes, netting four of her seven three-point attempts. In addition, sophomore backup point guard Bridgette Reyes had 12 points and five assists in 10 first-half minutes, on her way to 12 points, six assists, two steals and three rebounds.

Starting point guard Sarah Boyd, a freshman, had an off shooting night. She was one of nine from the field and missed all four of her three-point tries, though she did contribute four assists and three rebounds to her four points.

Vanguard was 20 of 23 from the foul line, while Cal Baptist (17-12) converted just eight of 13 free-throw attempts.

The Lions’ trademark pressure helped force 27 turnovers, while Vanguard finished with a mere 11.

Despite shooting a dismal 28.1% from the field after halftime, the Lions upped their lead to 70-34 with 13:22 remaining, before Cal Baptist countered by outscoring them, 22-14, the rest of the way.

Vanguard senior Jessica Richter, the two-time GSAC Player of the Year who was NAIA Player of the Year as a junior, finished with seven points, five assists, four steals and three rebounds. She was just two of seven from the field, zero for three from threedom.

Cook said the key to winning Monday is consistency.

“We need to play for 40 minutes and not let up,” Cook said.

Win or lose Monday, both Vanguard and Point Loma will move on to the 32-team NAIA Division I Tournament, scheduled March 19-25, in Jackson, Tenn.

Golden State Athletic Conference

Tournament semifinal

Vanguard 84, Cal Baptist 56

CB – Williams 17, Randolf 4, Deno 9, Bradford 6, Hahn 2, Wilhite 14, Greenberg 2, Tigget 2.

3-pt. goals – Wilhite 4, Bradford 2.

Fouled out – Deno, Hahn.

VU – Cook 17, Gregory 22, Richter 7, Boyd 4, Halberg 0, Rinke 14, Reyes 12, Pfohl 5, Carlson 3.

3-pt. goals – Rinke 4, Cook 3, Reyes 2, Carlson 1.

Halftime – VU, 51-29.

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at [email protected].