Biola upsets Lions

Steve Virgen

There were several reasons Vanguard University was stunned by Biola

in a Golden State Athletic Conference women’s basketball game

Saturday. But Lions freshman Kelly Schmidt pointed to the one that

she thought was most important after Vanguard, ranked No. 4 in the

NAIA, lost to visiting Biola, 85-66.

The Lions defeated Biola, 89-37, Dec. 2, but the Eagles were

different this time. And, apparently so was Vanguard.

“It didn’t feel like us,” said Schmidt, who scored 13 points, nine

less than her season average, which leads the GSAC. “It wasn’t our

tempo. That wasn’t us. This will wake us up. We’ll learn from it.”

Schmidt was 2 for 13 from the field (15.3%). She, just as the

Lions (17-2, 9-2 in conference), could never get on track. However,

the Eagles (11-9, 5-6) were red hot in the second half and received a

boost from international transfer Linda Ogugua, a 6-foot-6 center who

is originally from Nigeria. She was cleared by the NAIA and played in

her first game Jan. 17.

Ogugua competed in an amateur league in France two years ago,

Biola sports information director Ken Carlson said. The NAIA decided

she was eligible for play, but she lost two years and transferred in

as a junior. She scored 18 points and grabbed 17 rebounds. Her inside

presence also freed up her teammates, including Sarah Baird, who

scored a game-high 28 points, and Rachel Dulin (17 points), who

knocked down five three-pointers.

“We just didn’t play very well,” Vanguard Coach Russ Davis said.

“You have to give them a lot of credit. We got out-hustled,

out-worked and out-coached. We are a young team and in this one we

showed our youth. But I wouldn’t trade them for anybody. Teams better

sneak in and get a win now because those girls are going to be

dominating for the next few years.”

Davis said he told his players they lost their poise and they were

beat in every facet. Biola outrebounded Vanguard, 51-34. The Eagles shot 16 of 27 from the field in the second half (59.3), while the

Lions were 10 of 34 in the final 20 minutes (29.4%). Vanguard shot

31.3% for the game and 18.2% from three-point range.

Freshman reserve center Rachel Besse led the Lions with 18 points

and 11 rebounds.

The Lions entered the game with a 13-game winning streak. In their

nine conference wins, Vanguard has defeated opponents by a 29.6

average margin of victory.

*--*

Golden State Athletic Conference

Biola 85, Vanguard 66

Biola -- Dulin 17, Baird 28, Matthews 10, Richelli 4, Ogugua 18, Hill 8. 3-pt. goals -- Dulin 5, Baird 3, Matthews 1. Vanguard -- Mills 12, Burns 9, Faulkner 11, Josefsson 0, Schmidt 13, Besse 18, Dittenbir 2, McClellan 1. 3-pt. goals -- Mills 4.

Halftime -- Biola, 36-32.

*--*