CHANDLER, Ariz. – In a battle of two NAIA top-25 teams on Tuesday at the Cactus Classic, No. 14-ranked Vanguard women's basketball succumbed to No. 18 Montana-Western, 71-60, torpedoed by a season-high 23 turnovers.
The Lions committed seven miscues in the fourth period that led to nine Bulldog points, helping turn a two-point game into an 18-point blowout with just over four minutes to play.
The Bulldogs shot an impressive 65.4 percent (17-of-26) in the second half to subdue the Lions, which shot under 30 percent from three-point range for the seventh time in their last eight games. VU was 7-of-25 from distance.
Montana-Western made 10 threes in 24 attempts, shooting at 41.7 percent clip.
Lauren Baumgartner (SR/Meridian, ID) and Halle Si'i (FR/Long Beach, CA) scored 14 points apiece for the Lions. Baumgartner hit four threes while adding four assists and two steals. Si'i tacked on seven rebounds and seven assists to her stat line.
Melissa Akullu (JR/Kampala, Uganda) and Estefania Giner (SR/Chihuahua, Mexico) narrowly missed double-doubles as both grabbed nine rebounds. Akullu chipped in 12 points while Giner had 10.
The Lions held a significant 34-20 rebounding advantage that fueled a 13-2 edge in second chance points.
But the Bulldogs shot 57 percent or better in each of the last three quarters to drop Vanguard to 7-3 on the season.
Montana-Western, which improved to 8-2, received 17 points each from Brynley Fitzgerald and Joelnell Momberg, with Shainy Mack the third Bulldog in double figures with 10.
What Happened?: Despite all the shooting and ball control struggles, the Lions trailed just 50-48 with 9:09 to go in the game. Si'i scored five points during a 7-0 Lion run to make it a one-possession game.
But over the next four minutes, the Bulldogs chomped back with 15 consecutive points to bury the Lions. Isabella Lund scored seven in a row during the run – and three costly VU turnovers helped fuel the Bulldog spree. Mack's layup put Montana-Western up 65-48 with 5:15 to go.
Baumgartner scored eight points over the final four minutes, including a pair of threes, but the Bulldogs made 9-of-13 floor shots in the fourth to pull away.
Both teams were cold to start the game, but the Lions built a 12-8 lead after one quarter as the Bulldogs were just 2-of-12 from the field. Si'i scored the final five VU points in the period.
Akullu scored the first points of the second quarter to open up VU's largest lead at 14-8, but Montana-Western responded with a 12-4 run to go up 20-18.
The Lions trailed 25-20, but reeled off seven straight points to retake the lead at 27-25. Airiana Madanski (JR/Gilbert, AZ) and Jordan Sweeney traded three-point baskets in the final minute as both teams went into intermission tied at 30-30.
VU got down as many as nine points in the third period, but a heave from beyond half court by Si'i went in as the buzzer sounded, putting the Lions within striking distance entering the final 10 minutes.
Why Is It Important?: VU fell to 1-2 this season against ranked opponents.
What Was Said?: "We were down two with eight minutes to go and fell apart with poor decisions," said Head Coach Russ Davis. "That was the difference."
What's Next?: The Lions won't have long to dwell on the loss as they return to the floor less than 24 hours later. VU concludes the Cactus Classic on Wednesday against Montana Tech at 11:00 a.m. The game will be played at Chandler-Gilbert Community College.
