Vanguard defense clamps down on Mustangs

COSTA MESA — The Vanguard University women’s basketball team’s preparation for Saturday’s home game against Golden State Athletic Conference rival The Master’s included a math word problem posed to the Lions players by Coach Russ Davis.

“I have not been pleased with they number of points we have been giving up, so I pointed out to our girls that we were ranked 11th in conference in average points allowed,” Davis said. “And do you [players] know how many teams are in our conference?

“They said ‘11,’ and I said, exactly. “We were leading the conference in scoring (89.6 per game), but we were also leading in points allowed (74.8), so we had to turn that around.”

After the way the Lions clamped down, defensively, on the explosive Mustangs in a 92-64 triumph at The Pit, the effusive Davis had to search for more words to express his satisfaction.

“I was just really excited about how hard we played,” Davis said after the Lions forced 23 turnovers to hold the Mustangs to a season-low scoring output that was 24.6 points fewer than their average.

“I have so much respect for [The Master’s] program and coaches, I told our players, ‘If we don’t play hard, we’re going to get killed,’ ” Davis said. “I knew we could beat them, but tonight, our girls really stepped up. To hold that team to 64 points, I thought was fantastic.”

There was also plenty to praise, offensively, for the No. 2-ranked winners (5-1, 2-0), who extended their winning streak in regular-season conference games to 48.

Senior forward Melissa Cook led the way with 21 points, nine rebounds, seven assists and three steals, making six of 11 field-goal tries, including half of her six three-point attempts.

“I think this was a breakthrough for us,” Cook said. “I’m very happy with the way we played. [The Master’s] is a really good team, so this is a really good win for us. This was our best performance of the year, by far.”

Junior center Lauren Gregory added 16 points on seven-of-eight shooting, and also chipped in nine rebounds for the winners, who finished 50% from the field (33 for 66).

Senior Jessica Richter, the 2006-07 NAIA Player of the Year, scored 14 of her 17 points after halftime. She also posted four rebounds, four steals and three assists.

Richter’s three-pointer with 18:24 remaining sparked an 18-2 run that helped extend the hosts’ 41-31 halftime lead to 59-35.

Vanguard made 11 of its first 15 second-half field-goal tries, including five of seven from beyond the arc.

Senior Lindsey Rinke came off the bench to score 15, netting five of 11 from the field, including two three-pointers.

Six different Lions connected from three-point range, helping produce an unexpected blowout.

“I would never have guessed we’d have won by that much, not in a million years,” Davis said.

Davis said his team is continuing to build, which should raise some eyebrows among GSAC rivals.

The Lions have played both conference games thus far without 6-2 junior Marissa Rivera, who will be back some time after Christmas after sustaining a sprained knee, Davis said.

“We’re just going to keep getting better and better,” Davis said.

Sophomore Annie Gillespie led three Mustangs in double figures with 22 points.

Golden State Athletic Conference

Vanguard 92, The Master’s 64

TMC – Gillespie 22, Nanninga 12, Chenoweth 10, DuRocher 6, Ritter 5, Enge 4, Ayers-Stamper 3, Bekendam 2.

3-pt. goals – Gillespie 3, Chenoweth 2, Ritter 1, DuRocher 1, Ayers-Stamper 1.

Fouled out – Chenoweth.

Technicals - None.

VU – Cook 21, Gregory 16, Richter 17, Boyd 6, Blied 6, Rinke 15, Pfohl 7, Halberg 2, Reyes 2.

3-pt. goals – Cook 3, Richter 2, Rinke 2, Blied 2, Gregory 1, Boyd 1.

Fouled out - None.

Halftime – VU, 41-31.

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