Women’s Basketball: Lions move on to semis

FULLERTON — As the saying goes: It’s not how you start, but how you finish. But when it comes to single-elimination postseason play, sometimes a big finish is required to create the opportunity for the next start.

Such was the case for the Vanguard University women’s basketball team, which defeated William Jessup, 67-52, in the opening round of the Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament on Friday at Hope International University.

The No. 3-seeded Lions, ranked No. 6 in the NAIA, did not lead until the final seconds of the first half and trailed, 50-49, with 6:22 left in the contest. But, just as it had when it closed the second quarter on a 12-3 run, the Lions (23-5) finished the game on a 17-2 surge that carried them into Saturday’s semifinals against No. 5-ranked and No. 2-seeded The Master’s College.

Junior Maya Kennedy had 16 of her game-high 19 points after halftime to lead the winners, who earned their third victory over the Warriors (15-15) this season.

Kennedy made three straight three-pointers in a span of 78 seconds to turn a 54-50 advantage into a 63-52 cushion with 2:57 remaining.

Kennedy made seven of 12 field-goal tries, including five of nine from three-point range, to propel Coach Russ Davis’ squad. She connected on five of her final six field-goal attempts, including four three-pointers.

“Maya made some big shots,” said Davis, who noted that placing senior All-American Samantha Doucette at the high post after halftime, drew defenders into the paint, freeing up the perimeter shooters to have greater success.

“It sucked them in,” Kennedy said of the offensive scheme, allowing her to release her two-handed, screwball, side-spin-rotation jumper before any defender could close out.

“Hand down, man down,” Kennedy said, using popular basketball slang borrowed from boxing (indicating that an opponent that doesn’t protect one’s self will be knocked out). The basketball translation relates to a defender that without a hand up will be victimized by an uncontested shooter.

Senior All-GSAC performer Melissa Norman had 11 points and 11 rebounds to post her 20th double-double this season, tops in the nation. The NAIA’s leading rebounder was seven for eight from the free-throw line and added a game-high three steals.

Doucette had 10 points and three assists, while junior Claire Lamunu (10 points and four rebounds), senior Lindsey Harter (eight points in eight minutes, including a pair of three-pointers), junior Hanna Tabron (a clutch three-pointer that put the Lions up, 54-50), and sophomore Kandyce Smith (three points, four rebounds, three assists and one steal) all contributed to a valuable performance by Vanguard reserves.

“We piece it together,” said Davis, who lamented his team’s slow start, which helped allow a hot-shooting Jessup squad to seize a 31-23 lead.

But Harter’s three-pointer from the right wing at the first-half buzzer pushed the Lions to a 35-34 advantage.

Jessup shot 53.6% in the opening half, but was eight for 30 in the final 20 minutes (26.7%).

Vanguard was 10 for 27 from threedom (42.9%), while the Warriors made only three of 17 (17.6%).

The Lions also converted 13 of 18 foul shots, while Jessup attempted only five free throws and made three.

“We started slowly and we’re consistently good at having slow starts,” Davis said.

Vanguard likely can’t afford a similar initial misstep on Saturday at noon, when it will attempt to top a Master’s unit that swept the two regular-season conference meetings.

“It’s a tough matchup for us, but it’s hard to beat a team three times,” Kennedy said.

Added Davis: “We’re excited to have an opportunity to try to beat [the Mustangs (24-4)] who are good. It’s going to take a great effort.”

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Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament

First round

Vanguard 67, William Jessup 52

SCORE BY QUARTERS

WJU 19 – 15 – 12 – 6 – 52

VU 15 – 20 – 11 – 21 – 67

WJU – Sewell 14, Scully 7, Corona 6, Rodriguez 4, Nelson 2, Chavez 6, J. Luu 11, Perry 2.

3-pt. goals – Chavez 2, Scully 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

VU – Doucette 10, Goff 0, Norman 11, Kennedy 19, Hartvich 3, Lamunu 10, Harter 8, Tabron 3, Smith 3.

3-pt. goals – Kennedy 5, Harter 2, Tabron 1, Hartvich 1, Doucette 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.