Lions start playoff run against Biola

Steve Virgen

The Vanguard University women’s basketball team won the Golden State

Athletic Conference regular-season title, mainly because the Lions

have so many weapons.

Ranked ninth in the NAIA, they will use their balanced attack that

features seven players who average at least six or more points per

game, tonight at 7:30, when they host Biola in the first round of the

GSAC Tournament.

The Lions (23-8, 18-2 in the GSAC) are led by 5-foot-7 sophomore

guard Jennifer Wilcox, who averages 11.6 points per game and 5-7

senior guard Robbin Dittenbir (10.2 ppg). The two earned All-GSAC

honors this season.

Senior Courtney McKinney (8.4), sophomore Lacey Mills (7.7),

freshman Cecilia Josefsson (6.8), senior Jessica Lenderman ( 6.6) and

senior Paulette Seaman (6.4) also contribute on offense, and Laura

Lee is a threat from beyond the three-point line.

Lee, a senior who has nailed 32 three-pointers this season and is

the school-career leader in treys (202), is one of six players who

has hit 24 or more three-pointers. Mills leads the way with the

three-point bombs with 59 and is 32% from beyond the arc, while

Josefsson (44 of 108 for 40%),Seaman (29 of 78, 37%), Wilcox (27 of

86, 31%) and Lenderman (24 of 86, 28%) also add to the Lions’

outside-shooting arsenal.

Sarah Baird, Biola’s 6-0 junior guard, leads the Eagles in points

(16.0), rebounds (7.7), assists (4.0) and blocked shots (1.6) per

game. She earned All-GSAC honors. Biola also features 5-11 senior

forward Allison Box (14.4 ppg) and 5-10 sophomore forward Elizabeth

Matthews (14.4).