Lions earn No. 1 seed in NAIA tournament

The Vanguard University women’s basketball team (28-0), ranked No. 1 in the NAIA Division I poll all season, is the No. 1 seed in the NAIA Division I Tournament that begins Wednesday at Oman Arena in Jackson, Tenn.

The Lions, who finished off a perfect regular season by sweeping three games en route to the title at the Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament completed Monday, will open against Harris-Stowe University of St. Louis, Mo.

The Hornets (13-16), the American Midwest Conference champions, have won six straight. They are led by 5-foot-10 senior guard Laniya Stevens, a first-team all-conference performer who averages 26 points and seven rebounds per game.

Harris-Stowe, making its first trip to the NAIA Tournament, also relies upon 5-5 junior guard Chanel Ross, who is averaging more than 19 points, eight assists and seven steals per contest.

The first-round game tips off at 2 p.m.

Should Vanguard eliminate Harris-Stowe, it would meet either Freed Hardeman or Oklahoma City in the second round March 16 at 12:45 p.m.

The quarterfinals are scheduled March 17, with the semifinals and finals set for March 19 and 20.

Vanguard, making its sixth straight trip to the NAIA Tournament, its ninth overall, is led by 2007 Golden State Athletic Conference Player of the Year Jessica Richter, and the 2006 NAIA Division I and GSAC Player of the Year, Kelly Schmidt.

Richter, a 5-10 junior guard, is averaging 21.2 points, 5.5 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 3.9 steals per game.

Schmidt, a 6-0 senior forward, is averaging 13.7 points, 6.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists and is shooting 53.9% from the field. She is a three-time All-American and the school’s all-time leading scorer and rebounder.

Lacey Burns, a 5-11 senior guard, is averaging 14.1 points per game, including 42.7% shooting from three-point range (88 for 206).

The starting five for Vanguard, all of whom started last season when the Lions finished 31-2 and reached the NAIA Tournament semifinals, is rounded out by seniors Rachel Besse and Tiari Goold.

Besse, a 6-2 center, is averaging 11.3 points, 6-9 rebounds and 1.5 blocked shots.

Goold, a 5-7 point guard, is averaging 5.0 points and 4.7 assists.

The Lions are coached by Russ Davis, last year’s NAIA Coach of the Year.

Saint Xavier University of Chicago is the No. 2 seed. The Cougars (28-2) are making their fifth straight trip to the NAIA Tournament. They shared the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference regular-season crown, then won the conference tournament.

Two-time defending national champion Union University, based in Jackson, Tenn., is the No. 3 seed. The Bulldogs (27-5) won the TranSouth Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles and have won 18 of their last 19.

Vanguard defeated Union, 71-65, in the Rotary Classic tournament in Jackson on Nov. 18.

The No. 4 seed is Lee University of Cleveland, Tenn. The Flames (29-3) are champions of the Southern States Athletic Conference.

Vanguard is joined in the 32-team field by fellow GSAC schools Westmont, Azusa Pacific, The Master’s and Point Loma Nazarene.