Costa Mesa-- Vanguard University started Golden State Athletic Conference play on the basketball court Thursday night, with the women's team taking on the Warriors of William Jessup in the first game of the night. The Lions were a bit short-handed and WJU gave the team fits throughout the night. However, Vanguard would close out the game in good form and emerge with a 66-57 victory. The team goes to 3-0 overall and 1-0 in the GSAC, while the Warriors fall to 3-5, 0-1.
What Happened? VU had the first crack at a basket to start the game and after a miss by Michaella Elad (SR/Ontario, CA), Melissa Akullu (SO/Kampala, Uganda) brought the offensive rebound down and finished off the next shot to put the Lions ahead. After a turnover by WJU, Elad sunk a short-range jumper to double the advantage. The Warriors then tied the game and had a short-lived 6-4 lead before Gabriela Rosas (SR/Chihuahua, Mexico) buried the first three-point shot of the night to put the home side ahead 7-4.
But the rest of the first quarter belonged to the hard-working William Jessup side, as the visitors made a 7-0 run to take the lead 13-7. While the Lions found a few baskets towards the end of the period, the Warriors kept the team at an arms-length, with VU trailing 18-14 after the first-quarter buzzer.
William Jessup got the first basket of the second frame to push their lead to six. Hannah Monty (JR/Rancho Santa Margarita, CA) made a pair of free throws to cut into the deficit and Akullu made a put-back off another offensive rebound to make it a two-point game. WJU took a 27-22 lead soon thereafter but VU started to figure out the Warriors as the half closed out. Estefania Giner (JR/Chihuahua, Mexico) made her first points of the season and Akullu made a pair of layups to cut the lead to one. Airiana Madanski (SO/Gilbert, AZ) drove the net with 90 seconds to go to put VU up by one, but the Warriors had the final say, making a pair of free throws to take a 34-33 advantage into the halftime break.
The Warriors got the first bucket of the second half but Akullu and Elad both made shots down low to give the Lions a 37-36 lead. Both teams then missed some shots, as each side had a low shooting percentage in the quarter (VU 40%, WJU 35.7%). Just shy of the midway mark of the third, the Warriors surged back into the lead, going up 43-39 on a layup. A VU timeout followed and on the next possession, Akullu once more brought in a great pass, this one from Madanski, who snuck it through a pair of defenders, and Akullu bounced it in off the window. Madanski then made her first three of the night to level the game at 44-all. A layup by Giner helped the Blue and Gold to a 48-46 lead as the third period came to a close.
Another basket by Giner started the fourth off nicely for the Lions. Rosas then laid down a three and from there, VU did not look back. For the first time all game, a team led by double-digits, as an Akullu lay-in put the Lions up 60-49. A 7-2 run by WJU with three minutes to go forced the Lions into another timeout but Rosas helped to close out the game with a couple of steals and some good dribbling, as the final buzzer handed the Lions the 66-57 win.
Vanguard shot 47.9% from the field for the game, 23.1% from downtown, and made 17-27 free throws (63%). Akullu once more paced the field in points scored, as she netted 24 on 11-for-14 shooting. Elad picked up another double-double, with 12 points and a team-high 16 rebounds (5 O, 11 D). Rosas added in 10 points while Giner had the most assists on the team with three. VU held the Warriors to 30.8% from the field in the fourth quarter and 42.6%from the game.
Why is it Important? The Lions continue their dominance in the all-time series, as the Blue and Gold now own a 16-1 record against WJU.
What was said? "We found out before the game that our starting point guard was going to miss this game," said Head Coach Russ Davis. "So, it was an adjustment, but we managed to get it done. Props to William Jessup, they came out hot and took it to us. We found a way to get the victory and that's what good teams do. We did not play well, but that's because they made that happen.
What's next? The Lions will rest up for a noon tip against Menlo on Saturday, November 20th, inside the Pit.
