NAIA Tournament Notebook:

JACKSON, Tenn. — Though Lambuth University is in Jackson, Tenn., the site of the NAIA Division I women’s basketball tournament, only an estimated 200 Eagles rooters were among the estimated 2,000 on hand for Vanguard’s 70-67 second-round victory over the defending national champions Friday at Oman Arena.

What’s more, some of the early-arriving fans for Jackson-based Union University, which played at 8 p.m. local time, were openly rooting against Lambuth.

Lambuth Coach Joe Reints said the beginning of Easter weekend — classes were not held Friday at Lambuth — may have contributed to the lack of turnout for the game that tipped off at 4:30 p.m. local time.

“I think a lot of students went home to celebrate the Easter break with their families, so that probably hurt the attendance,” said Reints, who was in no way making excuses for his team’s defeat.

LIONS LIKE ZEBRAS

In its two tournament games, Vanguard opponents have been whistled for 47 fouls, to just 26 by the Lions. Vanguard has made 38 of 54 foul shots during the tournament, while its two opponents are just eight of 13 from the foul line.

Vanguard also benefited from a judgment call by official Bryan Porch in Friday’s win over Lambuth, as Porch waived off a three-pointer made by C.J. Kintchen that would have given Lambuth a 38-36 halftime lead.

“I didn’t think it was good and I was watching the clock,” Vanguard Coach Russ Davis said. “The guy made a good call, even though the crowd may not have liked it.”

Reints could not disagree.

“I didn’t think it was good, either, but I was going to try to talk them into it,” Reints said with a smile. “The good thing is, they had the [television] monitor there and they were able to look at it. It would have been nice to have it, but was it the difference in the game? No, but it could have helped.”

Conspiracy theorists, however, may note that Porch has worked both Vanguard games.

THE RICHTER SCALE

Vanguard senior Jessica Richter, a three-time All-American after playing her freshman season at Syracuse, is closing in on the 2,000-point mark in her career with the Lions.

She enters today’s quarterfinals with 1,953.

She ranks second on the career scoring list at Vanguard, behind former teammate Kelly Schmidt (2,639), a four-year All-American who is a first-year assistant coach with the team this season.

Richter’s 210 career three-pointers also rank No. 2 in school annals, trailing only Lacey Mills, who connected on 338. Richter, however, has gone four games now without adding to that total.

Richter, who spent much of her youth in Montana, said she knew some of the girls on the Carroll College team the Lions will face in today’s 2 p.m. quarterfinal, but only as acquaintances.

SCOUTING REPORT

Carroll College of Montana (27-5), which Vanguard meets today in a 2 p.m. quarterfinal at Oman Arena, had never made it past the second round in its four previous tournament appearances.

Those five trips to the NAIA Division I Tournament, by the way, began with the hiring of fifth-year coach Shawn Nelson, who spent the previous seven seasons as a Carroll men’s assistant. Nelson was an all-conference player for the Fighting Saints and led the Frontier Conference in scoring his senior season.

Carroll, ranked No. 13 in the final NAIA Division I poll, finished second to Lewis-Clark State in the Frontier Conference, and lost in the postseason tournament final to Lewis-Clark.

Three of Carroll’s five losses are to Lewis-Clark, while the other two were to Montana State Northern and Golden State Athletic Conference member Azusa Pacific.

The Fighting Saints were defeated by APU, 60-48, on Dec. 7 in the Lewis-Clark State Classic.

Vanguard swept APU in conference play, winning, 91-71, at APU on Jan. 19 and earning a 65-51 home triumph Feb. 23.

The Fighting Saints lead the nation in three-point accuracy, connecting on 44.1% of their 692 attempts this season. They are No. 2 in the nation in three-pointers made with 305 and they are 19 for 44 from threedom in their first two tournament wins.

Jolene Fuzesy, a 5-foot-9 senior guard, is the conference Player of the Year. She is averaging 19.2 points and 4.6 rebounds. She is shooting an eye-popping 55.3% from three-point range (116 of 210), while shooting a mere 50.8% from the field. She has made 110 of 122 free throws (90.2%).

Danielle Maloney, a 5-8 senior guard, is averaging 11.1 points and her 50 three-pointers rank second on the team.

Sophomore guard Elly Bruursema has 49 three-pointers this season and averages 9.8 ppg, while senior Laci High has 45 three-pointers.

Vanguard eliminated the Fighting Saints, 82-71, in the second round of the 2005 NAIA Tournament.

FALLEN COMRADES

GSAC champion Point Loma Nazarene, which handed Vanguard three of its five losses this season to end the Lions’ string of five straight conference regular-season titles, was upset, 71-64, in the second round Friday by Loyola of Louisiana.

The Sea Lions (29-2), ranked No, 3 in the final NAIA Division I poll and the overall No. 3 seed in the 32-team event, saw their winning streak halted at 23 by a Loyola team that was ranked No. 15 in the final poll.

Point Loma had rallied for many of its victories, including erasing a 20-point deficit in the final 12:54 to earn a 68-67 win at Vanguard Feb. 26, but trailed Loyola, 33-14, and could never recover.

With Point Loma’s exit, Vanguard remains the only one of five GSAC representatives who entered the tournament that are still alive.

The Master’s College, which overcame a 67-44 deficit to top Olivet Nazarene, 99-95, in the first round Wednesday, was knocked off by top-seeded Union of Tennessee Friday night, 95-78.

GSAC entries Westmont and Azusa Pacific were first-round victims. Westmont lost to Carroll, 61-59, while APU was beaten, 69-63, by Wiley College of Texas.

SEEDS PLANTED

The game that followed Point Loma’s defeat Friday saw No. 2-seeded Lee of Tennessee upset, 76-60, by Lubbock Christian (25-9), ranked No. 17 in the final poll. Lee saw its 27-game winning streak halted and it finished with a 32-3 record.

With No. 4 overall seed Oklahoma Baptist being upset in the first round, top-seeded Union of Tennessee, which Vanguard could face if they both reach the semifinals, is the lone top seed still playing.

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