Women’s basketball: Lions fall to Westmont

Tony Altobelli

COSTA MESA - The Vanguard University women’s basketball team was

its own worst enemy in Tuesday night’s 62-58 Golden State Athletic

Conference loss to visiting Westmont.

Twenty-five turnovers combined with 27% shooting from the field,

proved too much for the Lions (10-5, 3-3 in conference) to overcome.

“It all comes down to better fundamentals,” Vanguard Coach Russ Davis

said. “We’ve got to do better at taking care of the ball on offense and

we’ve got to find a way to shoot better. It all comes down to being more

mentally tough.”

Laura Lee led the Lions with 14 points, while Kelly Boeke chipped in

12. But it was a long night for four Vanguard starters, who combined to

shoot 0 for 22 from the field.

Fortunately for the Lions, the Warriors (12-6, 5-1) didn’t necessarily

play a game for the ages either. Westmont was led by Katie Hughes and

Tena Mensonides, each with 16 points.

“We had all those turnovers and we missed all those shots and we still

only lost by four points,” Davis said. “It’s not like we need to panic or

anything. We just need to toughen up, from the coaching staff to the

players. Everyone has to take responsibility.”

Vanguard got off to a horrible start and trailed, 13-5, before Davis

called a timeout to sound the alarm on his players.

Following the emotional chat, the Lions responded with a 7-0 run and

climbed right back into the game, thanks in part to numerous trips to the

free-throw line as a result of an over-aggressive Warrior defense.

Westmont answered the Lions’ run and never trailed in the first half.

Becky Gibb scored seven of her 12 points in the first half.

Vanguard stayed in the game, thanks to strong rebounding. The Lions

outboarded the Warriors, 24-17, and connected on 13 of 21 from the

charity stripe in the first half to trail by only two.

The Lions finally drew even with Westmont on their first possession of

the second half, when Boeke hit a jumper in the lane to tie it at 27. Two

free throws by Debbie Candelaria gave the Lions their first lead of the

game, 29-27.

Following a Westmont trey, Vanguard went on a 10-4 run to lead by

five. Lee led the surge with back-to-back three pointers.

The Lions’ joy was short-lived, however, as Westmont responded with a

10-2 run of its own. The Warriors took advantage of 14 second-half

turnovers by the Lions and gained a 44-41 lead.

Vanguard managed to tie the game, but a 9-0 Warriors’ run pushed

Westmont ahead for good.

Lee scored five straight points and with 2:45 remaining, helped trim

the deficit to four, but the Warriors answered with six straight points

and never looked back.

Vanguard fought back to trail by only three with five seconds

remaining, but a free throw by Hughes iced the game.

“We controlled the boards on them (53-33), which is very encouraging,”

Davis said. “Normally, when you outrebound a team like that, you’re

supposed to win.”

Candelaria led all rebounders with 11, while Boeke and Erin Edmiston

each had nine.

COLLEGE WOMEN

GOLDEN STATE ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

Westmont 62, Vanguard 58

Westmont - Hughes 16, Mensonides 16, Gibb 12, Hardeman 8, Smith 5,

McGeehan 3, Scofield 2.

3 pt. goals - Hughes 2, Mensonides 2.

Fouled out - Hardeman.

Vanguard - Lee 14, Boeke 12, Edmiston 9, Fikse 8, Huddle 7, Candelaria

4, Weidler 3, Dittenbir 1.

3 pt. goals - Lee 3, Fikse 1.

Fouled out - Fikse.

Halftime - Westmont, 27-25.