NAIA TOURNAMENT NOTEBOOK:VU aims to make history

JACKSON, Tenn. — Should the top-seeded and unbeaten Vanguard University women’s basketball team defeat Cumberland (26-7) in today’s semifinals of the NAIA Tournament at Oman Arena — tipoff is 4 p.m. — the win would do a number of things.

Vanguard defeated No. 3-seeded Union University of Jackson (30-5), the two-time defending NAIA Division I champion, 71-65, Nov. 18 in the Rotary Classic at Union.

Vanguard topped Lambuth (25-9), 68-66, Nov. 16 at the Rotary Classic.

The title game is scheduled for Tuesday at 4 p.m.

LEADING WITH A LIMP

Though Vanguard junior super sub Melissa Cook was sidelined for the rest of the season with torn meniscus in her left knee in late February, she continues to play a big role for the Lions as an inspirational leader.

“I’m trying to stay as positive as I can, and not let them see me down, because it has been really hard,” said Cook, who averaged 9.8 points and 5.0 rebounds in 24 games. “I missed the national tournament as a freshman too [with a torn ACL]. I’m really trying to get them pumped up for the games and let them know how lucky they are to be playing. I want to just to be as passionate about it as I would be.

“If you’ve never been hurt, you sort of take the game for granted. Once you have injuries, you realize how lucky you are to be playing.

“Before yesterday’s game, I talked to the whole team and told them the only team that can beat us is ourselves. And I truly believe that.

“I just encouraged them to play hard and leave it all on the floor. There are a lot of them who may be playing their last couple games and they don’t want to regret anything.”

Cook said her recovery time is four to six months and she should be “good to go” for next season.

But for now, she said, “I’m just trying to root for my teammates and give them inspiration.”

AT-LARGE ACCOMPLISHMENT

The Cumberland Bulldogs, ranked No. 12 in the final NAIA Division I poll, have advanced past the second round for the first time in their three NAIA Tournament appearances.

The only one of 15 at-large entries still competing in the 32-team tournament, Cumberland of Lebanon, Tenn. (just east of Nashville) finished tied for third in the TranSouth Athletic Conference, of which Union, Lambuth and Trevecca Nazarene, which lost in the quarterfinals to Vanguard, are also members.

Cumberland tied with Lambuth with a 13-5 conference record, behind Trevecca Nazarene (14-4) and Union (15-3). Coach Clint Mason’s Bulldogs then lost to Lambuth, 80-63, in the quarterfinals of the conference tournament.

The Bulldogs are led by 5-11 junior forward Renae Williams (13.3 points per game) and 5-10 senior forward C’Kala Humes (12.7 points and 5.9 rebounds per contest).

Kiana Robinson, a 5-8 junior guard from Brooklyn, N.Y., is averaging 9.7 points per game, while Tomika Hall, a 6-3 senior center, is averaging 9.0 points and 7.7 rebounds.

BONDED BY A BREAK

Mason said a key to his team’s tournament success was the four days off he gave his players after the quarterfinal loss to Lambuth.

“Lambuth just put it on us,” Mason said. “We got pounded. But when we came back after four days off, my team’s concentration, focus, mood, and intensity in practice were just unbelievable. That Lambuth loss did a lot for us, in terms of coming together, our chemistry, and our camaraderie.”

PUSHING THE PACE

When asked, Mason gladly gave his own scouting report of his Bulldogs.

“We play an up-tempo style,” he said. “We’re very athletic and we like to get up and down the court. That starts with our defensive intensity, and we use a couple different presses. We’re not going to change what we’ve been successful with all year, which begins with our defense, half court and full court. We try to get the ball to [senior point guard] Ashley Cross [5.4 points and 4.8 assists per game] and get out of her way. We like to spread the floor on offense and run a lot of four-out type stuff [four on the perimeter, with one post],”

Mason said his team relishes the underdog role.

“We don’t have anything to lose,” he said. “We have everything to gain.”

BARRY FAULKNER is on assignment in Jackson, Tenn. He can be reached via e-mail at barry.faulkner@latimes.com.