Young and successful

Bryce Alderton

The future for the Vanguard University women’s basketball team looks

very bright.

The present isn’t too bad either.

Led by freshman Kelly Schmidt’s 34 points and 13 rebounds to go

with 16 points from freshman Rachel Besse off the bench, the

fourth-ranked Lions defeated visiting Cal Baptist, 89-57, for their

13th straight win Tuesday night, the second time the two Golden State

Athletic Conference schools have played each other in five days.

Schmidt, a 6-foot forward, broke her own record in eclipsing the

school’s single-game scoring mark, which she set Nov. 15 when she

scored 33 points in a 102-47 win over La Sierra.

Schmidt, who finished with her seventh double-double of the

season, scored 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting in the first half as the

Lions (17-1, 9-1 in the GSAC) built a 42-26 cushion at intermission.

“Down low, I was able to do more moves because it seemed to open

up more,” Schmidt said. “It is great when Lisa [Faulkner] can get us

the ball. That helps.”

Faulkner, a junior point guard who transferred from UC Irvine,

dished out 14 assists to go with 11 points, one of five Vanguard

players to score in double figures. She was quick to shift the focus

to her teammates.

“Tonight was an average night really,” Faulkner said. “We came out

with energy and when everyone runs the floor well it makes my job

easier. Kelly played huge. She made it easy to make a simple bounce

pass for two points.”

Besse added six rebounds while Lacey Mills tallied 14 points for

Vanguard, which had just seven healthy players suited up.

“She has come a long way,” Lions’ Coach Russ Davis said of Besse.

“[Besse and Schmidt] are only freshmen, which is good.

“Lisa takes over with the assists. She is the best point guard in

the country.”

Davis removed himself from the bench for the second half to lie

down after experiencing a headache and dizziness, but returned to the

floor to meet his team after the victory.

Vanguard, which never trailed, lived up to its status near the top

of NAIA Division I with an up-tempo style Cal Baptist (7-10, 2-7)

could only keep up with for the first six minutes of the game.

The Lions stretched a 12-9 lead to a 42-24 cushion after Lindsey

McClellan (10 points) made two free throws with 1:27 left in the first half.

The Lancers trimmed Vanguard’s lead to 61-50 with 7:10 left in the

second half following a Lindsey Castle layin, but the Lions went on a

9-0 run over the next 1:48 to regain control. Besse (6-3) scored six

consecutive points during the run, getting inside position and

throwing her hands in the air to receive entry passes.

Besse scored four points, but played just five minutes in the

first half after she picked up her second foul eight minutes into the

game.

Mills scored 12 of her points in the second half as the Lions shot

56% from the field (19 of 34). Vanguard made 35 of 69 shots in the

game (50.7%) while limiting the Lancers to a 10-of-36 output from the

field (27.8%) in the final 20 minutes. The Lions hit 9 of 19

three-pointers, including four by Mills and three by Faulkner.

“When the [Lancers] doubled, we kicked it out to our shooters and

they hit a three,” Schmidt said. “This is an all-around team.”

Vanguard’s defense forced nine steals, three by Schmidt, which

prevented Cal Baptist from getting into any offensive rhythm.

Miranda Emde came off the bench to lead the Lancers with 10

points, while Vanguard held junior forward Nastasia Arriaran to nine

points, more than three below her season average.

“We put more emphasis on playing defense,” Davis said. “We

switched on screens this time.”

The Lions defeated the Lancers, 81-59, Thursday, and wanted to

jump to an early lead Tuesday, Faulkner said.

“We had a better running offense than last game,” Faulkner said.

“It was a little awkward [playing the same team twice in five days],

but there are advantages, like knowing what [Cal Baptist’s]

tendencies are. They made a couple of adjustments, too, like

switching on screens.”

The Lions were able to get through the screens with frequency to

get a hand in a shooter’s face.

Thus far, Vanguard has made its way to the top of the GSAC

standings with Westmont (7-1) hot on its heels.

Faulkner said there is still a long way to go.

“Our defense needs improvement as does our rebounding,” Faulkner

said. “Our goal is to get better with each practice and game and not

to peak until the end of the season. The Concordia loss [73-64 Dec.

6] was a good loss because it renewed our focus. We know we can’t

walk into a gym and win games. You don’t want to lose. You hate that

feeling.”

*--*

Golden State Athletic Conference

Vanguard 89, Cal Baptist 57

Cal Baptist -- Arriaran 9, Brandt 7, Sim 8, Cruz 0, Newkirk 2, Crane 2, Emde 10, Mendezona 9, Castle 2, Thoms 6, Schweigert 0, Nichols 2. 3-pt. goals -- Brandt 1, Arriaran 1, Emde 1, Mendezona 1. Vanguard -- Burns 4, Schmidt 34, Dittenbir 0, Mills 14,

Faulkner 11, McClellan 10, Besse 16. 3-pt. goals -- Mills 4, Faulkner 3, McClellan 2. Halftime -- Vanguard, 42-26.

*--*