SCC Makes Quick NAIA Exit, but Plans a Return

JACKSON, Tenn. —  After a 75-61 loss in their first NAIA national tournament game, Southern California College’s Vanguards wanted to discuss goals.

“We got our feet wet this time,” SCC Coach Russ Davis said. “Next year, we want to go swimming. And we’ll be back, no question about that.”

SCC lost to ninth-seeded Rockhurst to end a 29-6 season in the NAIA Division I women’s basketball tournament.

The Vanguards actually reached their goals this season, but they were too low.

“Our goals were to win the conference and go to the nationals,” Davis said. “We didn’t talk about what we wanted to do when we got here. So we’ll be setting higher goals at the start of next season.”

The Vanguards might have been playing in today’s second round if their three-point shooting had only been average. They made five of 25 three-point attempts for 20%, 19% below their average.

Alana Kempton was one of nine from three-point range. She had been shooting 41.8%. And 6-foot senior center Elaine Whittemore, the Golden State Athletic Conference player of the year, was limited to six shots before fouling out. She had 10 points, six fewer than her average.

Sara Herkenhoff, a 6-4 junior, took up some slack, scoring 18 points, 10 more than her average. She was seven of nine from the field. Kristi Wright added 10 points and five assists.

Tied, 29-29, at halftime, Rockhurst, which is in Kansas City, Mo., began second-half play with a 10-2 run and never trailed again. The Hawks built a 64-49 lead on a three-pointer by Sarah Miller with 3 minutes 45 seconds remaining. SCC countered with an 8-0 run, every point by Herkenhoff, to pull within seven. But the Vanguards got no closer.

Miller led Rockhurst with 26 points. She was six of 11 from three-point range. Alli Chonko had 18 points, 15 rebounds and five assists.

SCC outrebounded Rockhurst, 35-31, but the Hawks made 30 of 39 free throws, compared to SCC’s 10 of 14. Rockhurst shot 52.4% in the second half and improves to 23-5. The Hawks play eighth-seeded Oklahoma Baptist today.