Briefs: Lamunu tops GSAC

Vanguard University senior Claire Lamunu has been named Golden State Athletic Conference Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year in women’s basketball.

The 6-foot-1 native of Uganda averaged a conference-best 22.9 points and 12.7 rebounds to lead the No. 3-ranked Lions to the regular-season conference title.

Vanguard (27-2, 15-1 in conference) plays an opponent to be determined in the semifinals of the GSAC Tournament on Saturday at The Master’s University.

Lamunu amassed a national-best 22 double-doubles this season. She scored at least 15 points in all 29 games and posted a high of 33 points twice.

Lamunu shot 56.1% from the field, second-best among GSAC players, and ranked third in the conference with 86 steals. She also had 42 blocked shots and 33 assists.

Lamunu ranks second in the NAIA in scoring and third in rebounding.

Lamunu, recognized five times as the conference player of the week, was the only Lion to earn all-conference laurels.

Westmont and Biola had three players honored, while The Master’s had two.

Biola’s Alan Nakamura was named Coach of the Year.

Allmon repeat honoree

Vanguard University senior Zach Allmon has been named All-Golden State Athletic Conference in men’s basketball for the second straight season.

Allmon, a 6-foot-9 forward, averaged 12.4 points and 6.9 rebounds and shot 52.9% from the field for the Lions, despite battling injuries most of the season.

He had 39 blocked shots and 35 steals.

Vanguard (7-23, 5-11 in conference) tied for sixth in the GSAC and lost a tiebreaker with Arizona Christian for the final spot in the GSAC Tournament.

Liam Hunt of Hope International was named Player of the Year, while Lawrence Russell of The Master’s was named Defensive Player of the Year.

Hope’s Bill Czech was the Coach of the Year.

Lions’ Ross lauded

Vanguard University junior Payton Ross has been named Golden State Athletic Conference Player of the Week in softball.

The center fielder went 11 for 20 with 10 runs batted in in six games, all victories, last week and entered this week batting .429 with 12 RBIs and five stolen bases.

Vanguard entered the week on an eight-game winning streak.

— From staff reports

— From staff reports