Women’s Basketball Preview: Vanguard depth creates puzzle

The Vanguard University women’s basketball team opens its season Saturday and Hall of Fame Coach Russ Davis is confused.

Never before in his 21 seasons at the Lions’ helm has he been so perplexed about which muscles to flex.

But make no mistake, there is no cause for Vanguard supporters to be alarmed.

Let Davis explain: “This is the deepest we’ve gone [through preseason practice] where I’m not sure who we are going to start,” said Davis, who will need to make that decision for Saturday’s 5:30 p.m. home opener against Bethesda of California. “The biggest thing for our team this year is going to be our versatility. We can play a lot of different ways.”

Regardless of lineup configuration, Vanguard appears amply equipped to play the winning brand of basketball that has helped it make 15 straight NAIA Tournament appearances; 18 of the last 20 seasons under Davis, who was named to the NAIA Hall of Fame this fall.

“It’s going to take a while to figure out which things we’re going to do, how we’re going to do them and who is going to do them,” said Davis, who has a 525-129 career record at Vanguard (an .802 winning percentage), including a 25-7 mark last season. “But we have a chance to have a really special year.”

The Lions are ranked No. 6 in the NAIA preseason poll, despite losing their two All-Golden State Athletic Conference players from a team that reached the GSAC Tournament final and lost in the second round of the national tournament.

Senior guard Maya Kennedy and senior forward Claire Lamunu lead the returners, who also include senior Jamie Goff, junior guard Kandyce Smith and senior wing Hanna Tabron.

Kennedy averaged 8.8 points, which ranked third on the team behind three-time All-GSAC standout Samantha Doucette (15.6) and all-conference post Melissa Norman (13.9), who led the NAIA with 23 double-doubles.

Injuries forced Kennedy and Smith into point-guard duty last season, but they will return to more comfortable roles in the backcourt this season, Davis said. Kennedy started 25 games last season, while Smith, who battled a string of injuries in her first season at Vanguard after transferring from UNLV, averaged six points in 32 games, only two of which she started.

Lumunu, a 6-1 forward, did not start a game last season, when she averaged 7.5 points and 6.9 rebounds per game. But she averaged a double-double in five postseason games and, Davis believes, may be one of the top players in the country this season.

“Claire is ridiculous,” Davis said of the Uganda native. “She had 31 points and something like 20 rebounds in our scrimmage against Cal Baptist. “She changes the game at both ends of the floor and she is going to have a big season.”

Davis said freshmen Victoria Chea (Vista Murrieta High), Sierra Vaglica (Woodbridge High) and Leitasi Cravens (Saddleback Valley Christian High), are battling for the point guard spot, with Chea holding a slight edge at this point.

Christians Gerostergiou, a 5-foot-11 transfer from the Maine who is originally from Greece, will be a dangerous three-point threat, said Davis, who considers her one of the best shooters he has had at Vanguard.

Sophomore Kaitlyn Hawthorne is also expected to add to the long-range shooting proficiency that will include Kennedy (a team-best 40 three-pointers last season), while Davis said athleticism will also be a strength for his perimeter players.

In the post, Goff returns after averaging 4.5 rebounds and 3.5 points and starting 31 games.

“She does all the dirty work inside for us, and she’s like a coach on the floor,” Davis said of Goff.

Hanna Uluhea, a 6-4 transfer from Arizona Western Community College who redshirted last season, brings a powerful inside presence, as well as skills that enable her to face the basket, Davis said. Until she works on her conditioning, Davis said, she could be limited to around 10 minutes per game.

Junior Raechelle Davis, who last played at Orange Coast College, will be eligible for the second semester to add athleticism in the post.

Natascha Hartvich, a senior guard who started 22 games and averaged 2.8 points last season, is battling injuries that may force her to be redshirted, while Tabron (four points per game in seven starts), is ready for a breakout year and is in the top six players thus far, Davis said.

Gionni Blankenship and Alyssa Durr, who saw limited action last season, will be among the 18 players vying to be among the 12 or 13 that will suit up for every game, Davis said.

“Our practices are going to be competitive,” Davis said.