Lions take first step to title run

Chris Yemma

Vanguard University women’s basketball coach Russ Davis is confident

this year’s team has the best chance of winning the school’s first

NAIA national championship.

The Lions took care of the first step in that process by defeating

visiting Cal Baptist, 97-71, in the first round of the Golden State

Athletic Conference tournament Thursday night at The Pit.

But going through the GSAC tournament on cruise control is not

something the Lions (28-3), ranked No. 2 in the NAIA, have in mind.

“Absolutely not ... ,” said Davis, who was recently named GSAC

Coach of the Year. “[The GSAC tournament] won’t be easy. If we play

Azusa Saturday -- they beat us earlier this year and we just had a

five-point game with them the other night. So, they’ll all be great

games.”

Azusa Pacific is VU’s next opponent. The two will tip off in the

semifinals at Hope International in Fullerton at 3 p.m. Saturday.

It is hard, though, for the Lions not to look to the NAIA

tournament. Holding a solid grasp on the first spot in the conference

all season and winning their third straight GSAC championship, the

Lions had no trouble Thursday against the Lancers (15-18). Vanguard was led by Kelly Schmidt, recently named GSAC Player of the Year.

Schmidt shared a game-high 25 points on 8-of-11 shooting, posting

17 in the first half on 6 of 7.

“The postseason is it,” Schmidt said. “This is what we’ve been

working for all year, so you have to give it your all.”

Vanguard was also aided by Andrea Jacobson, Lisa Faulkner and

Rachel Besse, the latter two named to the All-GSAC team, along with

Schmidt.

Jacobson was perfect from the field, hitting 7 of 7 for 17 points.

Besse had 17 points on 6-of-9 shooting, while Faulkner added 15

points.

All was not perfect for Vanguard Thursday, however.

Melissa Cook, a 6-foot freshman averaging 11.4 points, went down

right before halftime holding her left knee. The severeness is yet to

be determined.

Davis was concerned.

“She’s an awesome player,” he said. “She’s one of the best

freshmen in America, and that’s going to hurt us. She’s a huge part

of the team. She does so many things for us -- she can guard five

different positions.”

The GSAC championship game is at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at Hope

International.