Vanguard pulls it out, 54-45

Steve Virgen

This is the team that Golden State Athletic Conference coaches picked

to finish ninth in the 11-team league in the preseason. Now, this is

the team that is one win away from clinching at least a share of the

GSAC championship, and it plays teams at the bottom of the conference

for its next two games.

The team, the Vanguard women’s basketball squad, overcame a

back-and-forth second half, and defeated visiting Point Loma

Nazarene, 54-45, at The Pit Tuesday. The Lions (20-8, 15-2 in the

GSAC), ranked 15th in the NAIA, recorded their third consecutive

victory and they have won 10 of the past 11 with three conference

games remaining. The Crusaders (10-7, 12-4), ranked 19th in the NAIA,

missed out on its chance to sweep the Lions this season and perhaps

missed their opportunity to win the GSAC championship.

“We just play with heart and determination,” Vanguard Coach Russ

Davis said. “We refuse to lose. I’m really proud of this group. We

were picked to finish ninth. It’s an unbelievable accomplishment, but

we have more work to do.”

Davis called Tuesday night’s game, “a blur,” perhaps because of

the seesaw action throughout, especially in the second half. There

were five lead changes and three ties in the second half. Neither

team led by more than four points until the final minute. That’s when

Jessica Lenderman, the Lions’ senior guard, nailed a three-pointer

that gave Vanguard a 50-45 lead.

The Lions outscored Point Loma, 11-2, in the final 4:00. Vanguard

shot 34% (10 of 29) in the second half, while the Crusaders were at

24% (6 of 25) in the last 20 minutes.

“Look at the scoreboard,” Lenderman said, responding to her

thoughts on the coaches’ preseason poll. “Look at the standings.

That’s all we have to say. We’ll leave it at that. That’s all that

matters.”

Lenderman scored all eight of her points, including two

three-pointers, in the second half. Vanguard senior Robbin Dittenbir,

who earned GSAC Player of the Week honors recently, led the Lions

with 11 points, 14 rebounds and four assists. She penetrated and

dished out the assist to Lenderman for the nail-in-the-coffin

three-pointer.

Dittenbir was 3 of 5 from beyond the three-point line. When it

seemed Point Loma was about to pull away with 8:21 left in the second

half, Dittenbir came up with a three-pointer that pulled the deficit,

37-36.

With a little under two minutes remaining, and Vanguard up, 47-45,

Dittenbir grabbed a defensive rebound. She pushed the ball in

transition and delivered a long lead pass to Lenderman. The pass

appeared to be going out of bounds, but Lenderman saved it by passing

in mid-air while gliding past the baseline. The Lions were able to

call time out to set up the three-pointer shot attempt by Lenderman.

“We just stick together as a team,” Lenderman said. “That’s our

style: team play. We just kept plugging away at it tonight.”

The Lions will have their chance to clinch at least a share of the

GSAC title Saturday at 5:30 p.m., when they host Hope International,

which is in last place in the conference. Vanguard can win its first

outright GSAC championship since the 1999-2000 season if it beats

Hope and then records a win at last-place Christian Heritage Feb. 25

at 5:30 p.m.

*--*

Golden State Athletic Conference

Vanguard 54, Pt. Loma 45

Pt. Loma -- Ciara 2, Mercado 4, Zimbleman 7, Kellar 6, Drungilaite

13, Sousa 4, Greenaway 7, Jenkins 2. 3-pt. goals -- Greenaway 2,

Kellar 1. Fouled out -- none. Technicals -- none. Vanguard -- Mills

0, Lee 9, Wilcox 9, McKinney 9, Dittenbir 11, Lenderman 8, Candelaria

6, Seaman 2, Josefsson 0. 3-pt. goals -- Dittenbir 3, Lee 3,

Lenderman 2. Fouled out -- none. Technicals -- none. Halftime -- Pt.

Loma, 26-23

*--*