SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The twelfth-ranked Vanguard Lions Women's Basketball (5-3, 2-3) dropped the second game of the three-game series against the fourth-ranked Westmont College (7-1, 4-0) on Friday evening by a score of 60-44. The Lions would post better shooting averages in every category when compared to yesterday's contest, but it was not enough as the Warriors rode another 20-point effort from Stefanie Berberabe to the victory.
What Happened? The Warriors would ride a 13-5 run to an early advantage as the Lions went cold from the field in the first. Michaella Elad (SR/Ontario, CA) hit back-to-back shots to pace the Pride at the end of the first, but the Warriors would hold a 19-9 advantage after the first ten minutes. Vanguard was held scoreless for the first three minutes and thirty seconds in the second quarter as they couldn't get anything to fall. Estefania Giner (SO/Chihuahua, Mexico) would put the team on her back and scored 11 straight before Lauren Baumgartner (SO/Meridian, ID) hit back-to-back jumpers as the Lions went into the half down nine.
VU would cut the deficit to seven at the 3:45 mark in the third quarter as Rosas hit a jumper, but unfortunately, that is the last basket the Blue and Gold would record in that quarter as the Warriors went on a 13-0 run to go up 52-32. Gabriela Rosas (JR/Chihuahua, Mexico) found her shooting stroke in the middle of the fourth, but at that point, the Lions had dug too deep of a hole as Westmont earned a 60-44 victory to stay perfect in conference play.
Why It's Important? The Lions' season is winding down quickly as they only have two more games on the schedule this year: the Westmont game on the 20th and a rematch against Hope International on the 22nd. Giner hit a season-high four three's tonight as she recorded her second-highest point total of the season.
Top Performers: Estefania Giner recorded a team-high 16 points on 5-9 shooting from the field and 4-6 shooting from deep, while Gabriela Rosas also scored in double figures with 11 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. As a team, the Pride shot 38% from the field, 35% from beyond the arc, and 100% from the charity stripe.
What's Next: The final game of the three-game series will take place on Saturday, February 20th at 11:30 a.m.
#ClawsUp
