Talent pulls Vanguard through

COSTA MESA ? This is not how the Vanguard women’s basketball team wanted to prepare itself for the NAIA Tournament.

The Lions, perhaps lacking motivation because they already qualified for the NAIA Tournament, labored through the first half before pulling away for a 67-55 victory over Cal Baptist in the quarterfinals of the Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament.

“That was probably the worst game we’ve played all season,” Vanguard Coach Russ Davis said. “We’re just talented enough to get away with it.”

Vanguard (28-0) crushed Cal Baptist, 110-65, in their last meeting on Feb. 21. The Lancers nearly held the Lions to half as many points Wednesday night.

“We slowed it down and controlled the tempo,” Cal Baptist Coach Steve Sain said. “We gave them some trouble with our zone defense and did a good job on the boards.”

The Lancers (8-13), who made a habit of using most of the shot clock when they had possession, took a 14-12 lead when Nicole Davis drove to the basket for a layup. Melissa Cook’s three-pointer gave Vanguard the lead back and a pair of baseline jumpers by Jessica Richter (game-high 18 points) helped the Lions take a 25-21 lead into halftime.

Nevertheless, the Vanguard coach was not happy at halftime. The Lions shot just 28.6% from the field in the first half and were 2 of 18 from three-point land. Vanguard was also outrebounded, 27-14, in the first half.

“They got chewed out,” Davis said. “My message was to get it together, because you don’t want to see me at practice tomorrow if you don’t pick up the intensity.”

Vanguard’s intensity level was much better to start the second half. One minute into the half, Richter and Lacey Burns (nine points) hit three-pointers to give the Lions a 10-point lead. Before two minutes had elapsed, Rachel Besse (team-high eight rebounds) had tallied three rebounds and a block.

A steal by Tiari Goold led to a layup from Richter, then Burns hit another three-pointer and the lead was 15 points.

By the time Richter blocked Nicole Davis’ three-point attempt, it was apparent a different Vanguard club showed up for the second half.

“In the second half, they hit two quick three-pointers, which gave them a cushion,” Sain said. “It’s hard to play them when they have a cushion.”

A three-pointer by Cook (13 points) gave Vanguard a 20-point lead with 9:47 left.

Cal Baptist cut the lead to 11 with 3:05 left in the game after three three-pointers by Jessica Fisiikava, but the Lions kept the Lancers at bay by making 7 of 8 free throws down the stretch.

“What Vanguard is really good at is converting second-chance points and getting points off turnovers, and we limited them in those areas tonight, especially in the first half,” Sain said. “Last week, when they scored 110 points against us, second-chance points really cost us.”

The Lions will get a second chance to get NAIA Tournament-ready when they host The Master’s, a 71-52 winner over Concordia, in the semifinals Friday.