Lions gain share of first

COSTA MESA — It was defense that helped the Vanguard University women’s basketball team climb into position to defend its coveted status as reigning Golden State Athletic Conference champion.

A frenetic and feisty zone defense, bolstered by a foundation of dual post defenders that gave away an average of almost five inches per player, helped the No. 3-ranked Lions handle No. 7-ranked Azusa Pacific, 88-63, Saturday to join the Cougars in first place with three regular-season conference games left.

The home win continues a trend of dominance by Vanguard (19-2, 15-2 in conference), since it was defeated 101-92, on Jan. 16 at APU.

“Since we lost to them we’ve been beating [the next 10 opponents] by an average of 27 points [actually 26.6 including Saturday’s romp],” Vanguard Coach Russ Davis said. “And when we play defense, our offense is ridiculous. We didn’t even shoot well [41.5% from the field] and we still got 88 points.

“We’ve just got to keep playing defense. If we keep playing defense like that, I think we can contend in Jackson [Tenn., the site of the NAIA Tournament, to which the Lions, national champions in 2007-08, are headed for the ninth straight season]. I like our chances right now.”

If the Lions can close out the conference regular season with wins over Concordia (Tuesday), Westmont (Saturday) and Cal Baptist (March 1), they would likely finish in a first-place tie with APU (22-5, 15-2). Both the Cougars’ and Lions’ remaining opponent highest in the standings is Westmont, which entered Saturday fifth in the 11-team conference.

In the event of a co-title, the top seed in the GSAC Tournament, scheduled March 3 through 8, would be determined by a vote of the conference coaches.

With the way Vanguard is playing lately, it figures to be an obvious choice to earn the No. 1 seed, which would mean playing at home throughout the conference tournament.

“A co-championship is not what we want, but [a share of] the championship is better than none,” said senior Bridgette Reyes, who led the Lions with 24 points. “We’re proud and we’re happy and we just have to finish off these last three [regular-season] games real strong and we’re there.”

The Lions strengths are many, thanks to a determination that ignited after the loss at APU.

“The thing is, we’re a different team since we played [the Cougars],” said Reyes, who chipped in five assists and four steals. “We’re playing better defense, we’re more intense and we really play as a team. We’re just getting better every day in practice and games. We’re playing together, we‘re working hard, and we’re just a completely different team.”

The main difference this time was Vanguard’s ability to deny the ball to APU center Kristie Hala’ufia. The 6-foot-2 junior finished with eight points, with only four field-goal attempts Saturday, thanks to zealous work by 5-foot-7 Molly Pfohl, 5-11 Nondi Johnson and even 5-8 Jackie Blied.

“[Hala’ufia] had 28 points against us the first time [in 29 minutes],” Davis said. “Our post players worked their butts off. I’m so proud of them.”

Reyes also had praise for the Lions’ “bigs.”

“We’ve been working all week in practice because [the Cougars] have such a big inside game [including 5-10 junior forward Alex Moore-Porter who had 25 points Saturday],” Reyes said. “Our posts did such an amazing job of bodying up, rebounding, and just giving great effort.”

Vanguard post defenders holding their position and also aggressively fronting down low, combined with ever-present hands in the passing lanes by Lions on the perimeter, helped force 28 turnovers, double Vanguard’s total.

Vanguard forced 14 turnovers during a first-half stretch of nearly 12 minutes in which APU did not score a field goal.

After Moore-Porter sank a bucket with 16:26 left in the half, APU trailed, 10-7.

By the time the Cougars scored from the field again, with 4:37 remaining before intermission, the Lions’ advantage had reached 34-13.

APU never got closer than 13 points as the Lions’ slashing, kicking offense helped produce 11 three-pointers and three traditional three-point plays.

Senior Diana Neves came off the bench to score 14, while Blied chipped in 12, senior Rachel Copeland netted 11 and Pfohl finished with 10.

Johnson had six points and a team-best seven rebounds, while Neves (six) and Pfohl (five) also helped Vanguard post a 39-38 rebounding edge.

Vanguard senior point guard Sarah Boyd had four points, but led the way with seven assists and five steals.

Golden State

Athletic Conference

Vanguard 88, Azusa Pacific 63

APU – Moore-Porter 25, Hala’ufia 8, Hall 14, Hill 11, Byrd 0, Higgenbottom 5.

3-pt. goals – Moore-Porter 1, Hill 1, Higgenbottom 1.

VU – Blied 12. Pfohl 10, Reyes 24, Copeland 11, Boyd 4, Neves 14, Johnson 6, Halberg 5, Beavor 2.

3-pt. goals – Copeland 3, Neves 3, Reyes 2, Blied 2, Halberg 1.

Technicals – Neves 1.

Halftime – VU, 40-24.