Lions’ women reload

After losing four talented veterans with a combined 12 seasons of starting experience between them, including two All-Americans and a former NAIA National Player of the Year, one might think the Vanguard University women’s basketball program would be hard-pressed to equal the kind of play that has produced a 125-10 record the last four seasons.

Coach Russ Davis, entering his 12th season with a career record of 289-77, appreciates this thinking, even if he doesn’t necessarily agree.

Davis himself alternates between downplaying expectations for this season and alerting Lions fans of the impending All-American status of a few newcomers.

Heading into tonight’s season-opening meeting with defending national champion Lambuth of Tennessee at the Rotary Classic in Jackson, Tenn., the Lions are ranked No. 2 in the NAIA poll, behind perennial power Union of Tennessee.

But extend the conversation long enough and Davis will eventually become effusive about a roster that includes the reigning NAIA Player of the Year, senior Jessica Richter, as well as two members of last season’s eight-player rotation and a host of newcomers that include a pair of Division I transfers.

Davis also has landed two more players from the Oregon City High program that produced the Lions’ last two point guards, both of whom wound up leading the NAIA in assists three of the last four seasons.

“I see glimpses of ‘Oh, man, we’re going to be good,’ then I see glimpses of ‘Oh, man, we’re young,’ ” Davis said. “But I like the depth of our team and I’m excited about the versatility. I think we’ve got a really good base here for the future ... It’s a young team with only three seniors, so we’re going to get better as we go. But, with all the injuries we’ve had early, I really believe we may get off to a slow start.”

Disappointing finishes have been the issue the last two seasons, when top-ranked Vanguard teams were upset in the NAIA semifinals, including last year’s previously unbeaten squad.

Four-time All-American Kelly Schmidt, the 2005-06 NAIA Player of the Year, has graduated after producing 2,639 points and 1,053 rebounds, both school career records.

Also gone are 6-foot-2 four-year starting center Rachel Besse, two-year starting point guard Tiari Goold and two-year starting wing Lacey Burns.

Richter, however, is a formidable centerpiece. The 5-foot-10 guard, a two-time All-American after transferring from Syracuse, by way of the aforementioned Oregon City High, averaged 21.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, 3.8 steals and 2.9 assists per game last season.

“Anybody who can go drop 33 [points] on Arizona [one of the Lions’ two exhibition losses against Division I teams this season] is pretty good,” Davis said if his dynamic senior star.

Also back is 6-0 senior Melissa Cook, who averaged 9.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.3 steals in 25 games last season, before missing the postseason with torn meniscus in her left knee.

Lindsey Rinke, a key reserve last season, is also a senior this season, while guard Jaclyn Blied saw time last season as a freshman. They averaged 4.3 and 2.3 points, respectively.

Cook, Rinke and Blied figure to see plenty of playing time this season, but Davis said spots in the starting five figure to be fluid.

“We’ve had a different starting lineup for all of our scrimmages and exhibition games and I really think who starts will be based on who is playing the best,” Davis said. “I think we have 10 players who can all start.”

Among those is 6-2 junior Marissa Rivera, whose three seasons at Texas Christian University were hampered by an ACL reconstruction.

“She started her first game as a freshman, hurt her knee, and didn’t play a lot after coming back,” Davis said of Rivera. “But she’ll play for us. She’s a great player. She’s going to play a lot at the five for us, but she can also play the four.”

Lauren Gregory, a 6-1 junior forward from Drury University in Missouri, will also help out up front, said Davis, who said the left-hander is so skilled, she could bring the ball upcourt.

“Lauren has a chance to be as good as any player we’ve ever had here,” Davis said.

No bigger praise could be bestowed on any Lion, based on the presence of Richter and the legacy of Schmidt, who is now an assistant coach.

Bridgette Reyes is a 5-7 sophomore guard who played previously at Boise State, while the freshmen are led by Sarah Boyd, Molly Pfohl, Kelsey Carlson and Paige Halberg.

“Boyd had 10 assists against Santa Barbara [in an exhibition] and she’s a 5-4, lightning-quick point guard,” Davis said of the Oregon City product. “I think she’ll score more than [Goold] and a little less than Lisa [Faulkner, who began the Oregon City point guard legacy at Vanguard that was carried on by Goold].

Davis said Pfohl, a 6-0 forward/center from Redondo Union High, provides strength and a physical presence inside, while Carlson, out of Minnesota, is a “great, great shooter.”

Halberg will provide depth in the backcourt, Davis said.

Ali Lomax, the daughter of former NFL quarterback Neil Lomax, was expected to come to Vanguard, but accepted a late offer from Kentucky instead.

Davis said his team will benefit from the competition at the Rotary Classic, which includes a game against Union Saturday and No. 8-ranked Freed-Hardeman on Friday. He also said he would not be surprised to return 0-3.

Davis also said the Golden State Athletic Conference, in which the Lions have won 46 straight regular-season games and have captured the last five regular-season titles, will pose a huge challenge this season.

“I think the GSAC champion will have two or three [conference] losses this year,” Davis said.

Backing him up are the preseason national top-25 rankings that have GSAC members Point Loma Nazarene No. 9, Azusa Pacific No. 16, The Master’s No. 19 and Cal Baptist and Westmont listed among the others.

The Lions open conference play Nov. 27 at Cal Baptist. They do not play their first home game until Dec. 1, a GSAC clash with The Master’s.

BARRY FAULKNER may be reached at (714) 966-4615 or at barry.faulkner@latimes.com.