ROCKLIN, Calif. – After a rousing win on Friday, the Vanguard women's basketball team hit the floor Saturday afternoon to take on the Simpson College Red Hawks. VU once again dictated the pace of the game, holding Simpson to single digits in three of the four quarters to take a 50-37 victory. Simpson drops to 3-4, while Vanguard goes to 5-0 overall, with VU improving to 4-0 against the Red Hawks all-time.
What Happened? The Lions got the opening tip but neither side was able to make a shot for almost two minutes. The Blue and Gold were able to get on the board after an offensive round from Jaryn Madsen (FR/Warden, WA). She reset the squad and made a tasty little pass to Melissa Akullu (JR/Kampala, Uganda), who finished with ease. Simpson tied the game the next time down the court and took a 4-2 edge at the 7:18 mark, but the Red Hawks would manage only one more basket over the final six minutes. VU tied it up off another Akullu swish and a layup for Lauren Baumgartner (SR/Meridian, ID) returned the lead to the Lions. Akullu made it 8-4 with 4:24 to go in the frame, with Halle Si'i (FR/Long Beach, CA) soon making it 10-4 on a crafty layup. Free throws by Airiana Madanski (JR/Gilbert, AZ) and Si'i would increase the gap to 14-4, with Si'i making a jumper with 10 seconds left on the clock to send Vanguard into the second quarter ahead 16-4.
Both sides again struggled to knock down buckets to open the second, with Simpson making a three just after the six-minute mark in the period. Baumgartner responded on the next possession by making a quick side-step and burying a jumper, drawing a foul in the process. Making the free throw, Baumgartner helped to keep the Vanguard lead stable at 19-9 midway through the quarter. Akullu would collect three unanswered layups over the next two minutes, with a pair of Si'i free throws running the lead to 26-14. The final minute of the first half ran out with no more scoring, with the Lions taking a 12-point edge into the second half.
A layup for Simpson opened the scoring in the third, but VU responded with three points courtesy of a free throw by Baumgartner and a layup for Akullu. Both teams were good on defense but the Lions shot only 13.3% in the frame, as the Red Hawks would narrowly outscore Vanguard 8-7 in the third. Despite a slow frame, the Lions would take a 33-22 lead into the final period.
VU improved to 60% shooting in the fourth, as both teams went over double-digits for the first time all game. The Lions put up a flurry of points over the first four minutes, making a 9-4 run, capped by a Madanski three, to expand the lead to 42-26. The advantage grew to 16 off an Akullu layup with 3:05 to go in the game but Vanguard ended up stuck on 50 points. Regardless, the defense smothered Simpson and the Blue and Gold walked away with the 50-37 victory, winning both games at the WJU Tournament.
Simpson shot 30.2% from the floor, with VU shooting 31.5% for the game. The Lions had a better mark from downtown, going 4-for-15 (26.7%), as the Red Hawks made 2-of-10. VU also made 70.6% of the team's free throws (12-17), compared to the Red Hawks netting a 56.3 percentage (9-16) from the charity stripe. Akullu collected her second double-double of the season, posting 18 points and 10 rebounds to lead both categories for Vanguard. Si'i had 13 points and Madanski had eight. Baumgartner led the squad with four assists. Estefania Giner (SR/Chihuahua, Mexico) was second on the team with eight rebounds.
What was Said? "We found a way to win," said Head Coach Russ Davis. "We did not play very well, but, when you don't play well, you need to give your opponent credit for that. Our goal was to get two wins on this trip and we accomplished that."
What's Next? The Lions will begin Golden State Athletic Conference play next, but at least they know the Warrior Arena well. Vanguard will return to Rocklin on Thursday, December 1, and face the Warriors at 5:30 p.m. WJU split its opening GSAC games, beating San Diego Christian but falling to Hope International.
