Lions’ dream continues

Steve Virgen

Vanguard University’s own brand of March Madness begins with a

first-round game against Mobile University of Alabama Wednesday night

at 10:15 CST in the NAIA Women’s Basketball National Championships at

the Oman Arena.

Coach Russ Davis’ Lions, the Golden State Athletic Conference

champions, have won 15 of their last 17. Their last loss came Tuesday

11 to The Master’s, 76-66, in the GSAC Tournament’s title game.

However, Davis is confident his team is capable of making a run in

the NAIA tournament, mainly because the Lions are motivated.

Vanguard has won just one first-round game in the 32-team NAIA

tournament, and that came in 1999. This year, the Lions meet the

Rams, who reached the second round (Sweet 16) last season. Vanguard

is the No. 2 seed in the fourth of four brackets. Each bracket

consists of eight squads.

Davis said his team has so many weapons, Mobile will have a

difficult time trying to find one person to stop. The Lions feature

seven players who average six or more points per game. Sophomore

Jennifer Wilcox, an All-GSAC guard, leads the bunch, scoring 11.2

points per game, while All-GSAC senior guard Robbin Dittenbir (10.6

ppg), senior forward Courtney McKinney (8.3), sophomore point guard

Lacey Mills (8.3), freshman forward Cecilia Josefsson (6.5), as well

as senior guards Jessica Lenderman (6.2) and Paulette Seaman (6.2),

round out Vanguard’s offensive arsenal.

“We have really good balance,” said Davis, who was named NAIA

Region I Coach of the Year by the coaches association. “Hopefully,

that will take care of us.”

Davis also said Vanguard, ranked No. 7 in the NAIA, must step up

its defense, particularly in the post, where 6-foot freshman Crystal

Coston tends to score for Mobile. Coston leads the Rams (22-12) at

14.8 points per game and her 9.5 rebounds per game are also a team

high.

Should the Lions advance, they would meet either Transylvania

University of Kentucky or Auburn Montgomery University Friday.