Lions are back on winning track

JACKSON, Tenn. -- After an 11-day layoff that followed its only loss of the season, the Vanguard University women’s basketball team showed it was eager to get back on track Wednesday in the first round of the NAIA Division I Championships at Oman Arena.

In their 91-46 romp over Texas College (13-17), the top-seeded Lions (29-1) also showed off a potent bench.

Junior reserve Andrea Jacobson made 9 of 12 field-goal attempts on her way to a game-high and career-high 20 points in 17 minutes. Sophomore Melissa Cook added nine points, four assists and four rebounds in 19 minutes.

The win moves the Lions into Friday’s second round, when they will meet the University of Cumberlands from Kentucky (21-8), at 10:30 a.m. Cumberlands beat Cumberland University of Tennessee, 68-67, Wednesday.

The Vanguard starters weren’t bad either.

Junior Jessica Richter had 15 of her 18 points in the first half, when the Lions outscored the Lady Steers, 20-6, in the final 10 minutes to turn a 25-17 lead into a 22-point halftime cushion.

Junior Kelly Schmidt had 14 of her 16 points before intermission. She finished 7 of 10 from the field and added seven rebounds and three assists.

Junior center Rachel Besse had 15 points and a game-high 12 rebounds, junior Lacey Burns had 10 points, six rebounds, four assists and four steals, while junior point guard Tiari Goold had a game-high seven assists.

Texas College, which finished 16 of 63 from the field (25.4%), went without a field goal for a span of 8:26 late in the half.

The Lady Steers’ cold spell continued after halftime as Vanguard scored the first 13 points of the second half. Texas managed just one field goal in the first 9:19 after intermission.

By the time the Lady Steers had their second basket of the final 20 minutes, Vanguard led, 68-26, and Schmidt, Richter and Goold were already settled on the bench, where they watched the rest of the game.

The reserves, led by Jacobson and Cook, continued to build on the lead. The 45-point winning margin tied for fifth best this season for Vanguard, which came into the tournament outscoring teams by an average of nearly 31 points per game.

The 45-point margin matched the biggest defeat this season for Texas College, making its first appearance in the 32-team event. The Lady Steers were also beaten by 45 by Houston Baptist, ranked sixth in the final Division I poll.

“We’ve been a little anxious waiting for this, so it was good to get the first game out of the way,” Richter said. “I thought we had good energy.”

Vanguard Coach Russ Davis said he was not pleased with the inside play of Besse and Jacobson in the first half. Besse had three shots blocked by 5-11 Texas center Erica Delley in the first 20 minutes. The two Lion posts were a combined 2 of 7 from the field, with six rebounds in the opening half.

“I challenged Rachel and Andrea at halftime,” Davis said. “I didn’t think they were posting up very strongly.”

In the second half, Besse and Jacobson, who were frequently on the floor together, combined for 31 points, 10 rebounds and made 15 of 19 field-goal attempts.

“I love playing with Rachel,” said Jacobson, who became the first player other than Schmidt, Richter or Besse to lead the Lions in scoring this season. Jacobson came in averaging 6.0 points per game.

Delley, who had 17 double-doubles this season and led Division I in rebounding at 12.5 per game, finished with 10 points, eight rebounds and seven blocked shots. She was 4 of 16 from the field.

“It wasn’t one of Erica’s strongest games,” Texas Coach Debra Alexander said. “Vanguard is very big and I think [Delley] got tired out toward the end.”

Vanguard finished 37 of 71 from the field (52.1%).

“It was hard getting information on [Texas College],” Davis said. “Usually we have more information on an opponent here. But I think we played a lot better as the game went along.”