Women’s Basketball: Lions thumped at Biola
LA MIRADA — For the first time in two seasons, the Vanguard University women’s basketball team had to swallow the bitter taste of lopsided defeat.
The No. 3-ranked Lions, who entered the week leading the NAIA in scoring margin (plus-28 points per game), saw their 20-game winning streak halted by No. 17-ranked Biola, 71-47, in a Golden State Athletic Conference game on the Eagles’ floor.
Biola (20-6, 11-3 in conference) had been handled, 71-35, in the first meeting with the Lions at Vanguard on Jan. 24.
But this time, the roles were reversed as the Lions shot a season-worst 25.4% from the field (17 for 67), including five for 29 from three-point range (17.2%, the second-worst accuracy of the season).
Biola was as hot as the Lions were cold. The Eagles netted seven of their first eight three-point attempts, were nine for 12 from threedom midway through the third quarter, and finished 11 for 22 from beyond the arc.
Biola finished 23 for 49 from the field (46.9%) to overcome deficits in rebounding (41-37) and turnovers (17-16).
It was the worst defeat for Vanguard since the 2014-15 season finale, an 84-56 thumping at the hands of Southern University at New Orleans in the first round of the NAIA Tournament. That’s a span of 58 games.
The Lions usually prescribe their own doses of drubbings by scheduling exhibitions and scrimmages each season against Division I programs, including Connecticut, which extended its winning streak to 100 games on Monday.
“We didn’t come out ready to compete,” said Jana Pearson, a Vanguard assistant coach who filled in for Russ Davis, who did not attend the game due to health reasons, Pearson said. “I don’t have an excuse for [the team’s struggles]. We missed shots and part of how we get our energy has been when we hit shots.”
Vanguard missed its first 11 three-point tries before Christiana Gerostergiou, who had four of the Lions’ five three-pointers, ended the drought with 3:25 left in the first half.
By that time, however, the Eagles, who shot a season-worst 28% from the field (14 for 50, including six for 25 on three-point attempts) in the lopsided loss at Vanguard, held a 38-18 lead.
Biola led by as many as 34, as junior guard DeMoria White, who was one for 14 from the field, including zero for eight from threedom at Vanguard, had 20 points. White netted four of five three-point tries.
Vanguard senior Claire Lamunu had 12 of her 20 points in the fourth quarter, and finished with a team-best eight rebounds, three steals and two blocked shots. It was only the fifth time in 26 games this season that Lamunu did not produce double-figures in rebounds and points.
Vanguard’s Maya Kennedy was zero for 11 from the field, including eight misfires from beyond the arc, while fellow senior starter Hanna Tabron was one for seven from the field, including one for five from three-point range. Four Vanguard reserves combined to go zero for 11 from the field.
With just three regular-season games remaining, Vanguard maintains a 1.5-game lead over second-place Westmont (10-2). The Lions play host to the No. 6-ranked Warriors on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
Pearson said her team needs to heed the humility it typically doles out to opponents.
“Defensively, in ways that we’ve been getting it done, we didn’t get it done tonight,” Pearson said. “We have to do a little soul searching. We have to defend better and we have to get in better condition. We have to not be so up and down in terms of our level of competitiveness. We have to come out and compete every night.”
Golden State Athletic Conference
Biola 71, Vanguard 47
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Vanguard 6 – 15 – 8 – 18 – 47
Biola 18 – 22 – 23 – 8 – 71
VU – Goff 7, Lamanu 20, Chea 4, Tabron 3, Kennedy 0, Gerostergiou 12, Durr 1.
3-pt. goals – Gerostergiou 4, Tabron 1.
Fouled out – Goff.
Technicals – None.
BU – Kirton 13, Dougan 9, White 20, Park 15, Brimley 7, Macedo 5, Shill 2.
3-pt. goals – White 4, Park 3, Dougan 2, Brimley 1, Macedo 1.
Fouled out – None.
Technicals – None.
Twitter: @BarryFaulkner5
