Women’s Basketball: Lions endure for win
SANTA BARBARA — Things happened in threes for the Vanguard University women’s basketball team on Tuesday night.
The No. 5-ranked Lions knocked off the No. 3-ranked Warriors, 64-57, in overtime to extend their Golden State Athletic Conference lead, as well as their winning streak.
The visitors (23-1, 11-0 in conference) achieved their biggest win of the season, their 17th straight, by drastically changing their three-point shooting fortunes in overtime.
Coach Russ Davis’ Lions also relied on No. 3, senior Kandyce Smith, to help support senior star Claire Lamunu when seemingly no other Vanguard player would.
Vanguard missed its first 10 three-point tries in the first 27:38, and the Lions were three for 18 from three-point range at the end of regulation, when the teams were knotted at 49-49.
But the Lions netted all three three-point attempts during overtime to pull away from the Warriors (19-3, 9-2).
Lamunu, who came in as the No. 2 scorer and rebounder in the nation, was her amazing self. She made 10 of 15 field-goal tries, netted all five of her free throws, and also produced a game-high 11 rebounds to go with two blocked shots.
Lamunu had 13 of the Lions’ 19 first-half points, with the other six going to Smith. It wasn’t until junior center Tania Uluheua sank a layup with 6:24 left in the third quarter that a Lion other than Lamunu or Smith found the bottom of the net.
Smith finished with 13 points, a team-best four assists, three rebounds and one steal in 35 minutes off the bench. Her physical strength and ability to take care of the ball was a supreme stabilizing factor.
Smith made the second of two foul shots with 12 seconds left in regulation to force overtime and drained a pair of free throws with one second left in overtime to close out Vanguard’s third straight win at Westmont, the Lions’ 14th in their last 16 trips, dating back to 2002.
“It’s not easy to win at Westmont [which won the three of the last five GSAC regular-season titles, as well as a national championship in 2013],” Davis said. “I think we showed we are a team that might have something to say [in the national title chase] this season.”
Davis had plenty to say at halftime, when his team trailed, 26-19, and had 11 of the 12 turnovers it would finish with.
“We needed a little attitude adjustment,” Davis said of his intermission verbiage. “I challenged our seniors. Between [senior starters Jamie Goff, Maya Kennedy and Hanna Tabron] they had no points and two rebounds at halftime. I told them they were better than that.”
Vanguard was collectively better after the first 20 minutes. The Lions were 15 for 32 from the field, including five for six in overtime, after hitting just eight of 23 first-half field-goal attempts.
“We executed when we needed to,” Davis said. “I spent a lot of time in the last 24 hours studying tapes of our recent games with Westmont, and saw that they had a tough time guarding Kandyce. Kandyce has that ability to get in the paint [either off the dribble from the point, or posting up] and make people have to guard her. And she’s a tough cover.”
With Vanguard inbounding from the baseline out of a timeout with 14 seconds left in regulation, Smith split two defenders and was fouled on the block, which sent her to the line to tie it.
After the two teams traded baskets to start overtime, Vanguard junior guard Alyssa Durr, who was scoreless at the time, drained the first of her two overtime three-pointers.
Freshman Victoria Chea, who had not taken a shot to that point, netted another three-pointer on Vanguard’s next possession and Lamunu followed with a layup created by Christiana Gerostergiou’s drive and dish, that gave the Lions an insurmountable 59-54 lead.
Vanguard led just twice in regulation, the first time at 46-45 with 2:47 left on Gerostergiou’s three-pointer.
Kennedy chipped in 10 points, a team-best four assists and three rebounds, and had no turnovers in 38 minutes.
Vanguard won the rebounding battle, 41-32, and finished 23 for 55 from the field (41.8%) against a Westmont team leading the NAIA in scoring defense (46.1 points allowed per contest).
Westmont shot 35.2%, but was eight for 24 from the field (33.3%) in the second half.
“It feels great,” Smith said of her strong contribution. “I play for my teammates, so when they need me, I’m going to be there.”
The two teams meet again at Vanguard on Feb. 21.
Golden State Athletic Conference
Vanguard 64, Westmont 57
SCORE BY PERIODS
VU 8 – 11 – 20 – 10 – 15 – 64
WMT 14 – 12 – 14 – 9 – 8 – 57
VU – Lamunu 25 , Goff 0, Kennedy 10, Chea 3, Tabron 0, Smith 13, Durr 6, Uluheua 4, Gerostergiou 3.
3-pt. goals – Kennedy 2, Durr 2, Gerostergiou 1, Chea 1.
Fouled out – Goff.
Technicals – None.
WMT – McCoy 16, Shellmire 7, Chan 12, Brakken 10, Sato 2, Haskin 8, Ranger 2.
3-pt. goals – Chan 2, Brakken 2.
Fouled out – None.
Technicals – None.
Twitter: @BarryFaulkner5
