Lions heat up to cool off Hope International

FULLERTON — The Vanguard University women’s basketball team welcomed back Coach Russ Davis for the first time in five games Tuesday night. But the presence of their exceptional veteran coach wasn’t the only novelty for the Lions.

“We talked [Monday] about erasing all our shooting percentages, throwing them behind us and only counting the stats from here on out,” Davis said after his squad turned over a new offensive leaf to roll over host Hope International, 71-31, in a Golden State Athletic Conference game.

The Lions, who entered the game shooting 37.3% from the field, netted 27 of 55 field-goal tries to just miss the 50% plateau. But even more impressive was the defensive presence that helped lead to an abysmal shooting performance by the Royals, who knocked off the Lions in last year’s GSAC Tournament semifinals.

“We were due,” Davis said of his team’s strong shooting effort, which included producing nearly half of its 27 field goals from at least 10 feet out. The No. 13-ranked Lions, in fact, netted nine first-half field goals from between 15-20 feet, while holding the Royals to a three-for-24 shooting performance (12.5%) before intermission.

At one point late in the game, the Hope starters were a combined three for 33 from the field (a mere 9.1%).

“They couldn’t figure out our zone,” said Davis, whose squad (11-4, 4-2 in conference) also helped create 21 turnovers to generate its lowest opponent scoring total in 161 games. Not since a 112-21 thumping of Bethesda in November, 2009, had Vanguard held an opponent to fewer than 32 points.

“They didn’t shoot it very well, but I think it was because they couldn’t figure out when to shoot and when not to shoot. Our zone looked like the old days,” Davis said.

The Lions, who earned their second straight conference road win after dropping their first two GSAC road dates, made eight of their first 10 field-goal tries on their way to a 17-3 cushion that turned into a 38-14 halftime bulge.

Junior guard Riley Holsinger had 13 of her game-high 18 points at halftime to lead the visitors, who entered the game in fifth place in the nine-team GSAC.

“It was a good comeback for me after missing the last four games due to a family emergency,” Davis said. “I was really happy with our performance. Tonight was a fresh start and a new Vanguard. And we looked good tonight.”

Junior Amber Alexander, a transfer from Freed-Hardeman who joined the team after the first six games, made six of 11 field-goal tries on her way to 15 points. The 6-foot post added five rebounds, three steals, one blocked shot and one assist.

Junior Samantha Doucette, who was seven for 14 from the field, led the Lions’ mid-range barrage, connecting on jumpers from 16, 16, 16, 11, 19 and 19 feet. She added six rebounds and three steals to her 14 points.

Sophomore forward Jamie Goff had a game-best 11 rebounds to go with two assists and two points, while junior Lauren Martin and freshman Gionni Blankenship contributed seven and six points, respectively, off the bench.

The Lions committed 17 turnovers, but earned a 23-8 advantage in points off turnovers and also amassed a 50-28 rebounding advantage to collect their fifth win in their last six contests.

Vanguard used runs of 13-0 and 13-2 to pull away in the opening half, then generated surges of 11-2 and 12-1 after the break to close out its most decisive triumph of the season.

Hope fell to 11-7, 2-2.

The Lions can use all the momentum they can gather heading into their next two conference games, Saturday at home against Biola (4-0 in conference heading into the week), and Jan. 24 at home against No. 9-ranked Concordia (5-0 in conference going into Tuesday).

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Golden State Athletic Conference

Vanguard 71, Hope International 31

VU – Alexander 15, Goff 2, Holsinger 18, Doucette 14, Kennedy 4, Martin 7, Blankenship 6, Tabron 3, Zugasti 2.

3-pt. goals – Martin 1, Tabron 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

HIU – Canning 2, Terwilliger 0, Bauman 11, Jacobs 4, Perry 0, Lindsey 6, Horn 5, Santiago 3.

3-pt. goals – Bauman 3, Horn 1.

Fouled out – Jacobs.

Technicals – None.

Halftime – 38-14, VU.