SANTA CLARITA, Calif. – The Vanguard women's basketball team turned in one of its best defensive efforts of the season in a 71-62 victory over The Master's on Saturday evening at The MacArthur Center.
The Lions held the nation's sixth-ranked team to 33.9 percent shooting, the second-lowest percentage by a Golden State Athletic Conference opponent this season. The Mustang struggles were even more pronounced from distance, as Vanguard held them to 5-of-25, 20.0%.
Meanwhile, Vanguard shot a season-best 61.5 percent from three-point land, making 8 of 13 overall. That ranks No. 3 all-time in the VU history books for three-point field goal percentage.
Alexa Silva (FR/Lemoore, CA) befuddled The Master's scoring all 15 of her points via five three-point makes in six attempts. Lauren Baumgartner (JR/Meridian, ID) played a brilliant all-around game with 16 points on an efficient six shots. She knocked down 3-of-4 from distance and was instrumental to the win from the free throw line, making 7-of-10 overall. In 27 minutes, Baumgartner also dished out six assists with just one turnover against constant Mustang pressure.
Estefania Giner (JR/Chihuahua, Mexico) and Melissa Akullu (SO/Kampala, Uganda) also excelled for the Lions. Giner scored a game-high 20 points to go along with seven assists and four rebounds.
Akullu delivered another double-double, her 12th of the season, as she posted 18 points and a game-high 15 rebounds.
The Lions recorded 21 assists on 27 baskets. It was the fourth time this season Vanguard had 20-plus assists in a game.
Ella Brubaker finished with 16 points to lead the Mustangs, but she shot just 6-of-20 from the field.
What Happened?: The Lions snatched the lead midway through the first half and never relinquished it again.
Giner hit back-to-back jumpers to give Vanguard the 19-18 lead at the 8:23 mark of the second quarter.
In the first quarter, the Lions outshot the Mustangs 58.3 percent to 19.0 percent, yet somehow trailed 16-15. The Master's was 6-of-6 from the foul line in the first 10 minutes.
But Giner got hot in the second period, accounting for Vanguard's first five buckets as the Lions built a 25-23 lead.
Madeline Cooke sank two free throws to tie the game at 27-27, but Akullu's layup and a Silva three pushed VU back into the lead at 32-27.
Giner completed a 12-point second quarter with a layup to give VU a 34-29 lead at intermission.
The two teams were locked into a tight battle midway into the third quarter as VU clung to a 38-36 lead on Cooke's layup.
However, Baumgartner and Silva connected for back-to-back threes as the advantage swelled to 44-38 with 4:08 to go in the third.
VU eventually went on a 10-2 run to open up its biggest cushion at 48-38 on another Giner basket. The Lions held a 50-41 advantage going into the final period.
Allyson Pettit scored six straight points as VU's lead dipped to 56-49 with 7:54 remaining.
The Lions went without a bucket for nearly four minutes as Pettit's three trimmed The Master's deficit to 58-54.
However, a steal by Airiana Madanski (SO/Gilbert, AZ) got the Lions out in transition. The Lions missed a pair of layups, but got the offensive rebound in both cases. Baumgartner rebounded one of the misses, and turned that into a three-point opportunity which she converted with 3:55 to go.
Up 61-54, the Lions saw their lead cut to four as Brubaker hit a three at the 3:34 mark.
But that's when Baumgartner carried VU the rest of the way, as she scored the team's last 13 points. She hit another crucial three with two minutes remaining, putting the Lions up 67-60.
The Mustangs attempted to foul to get back in the game, but Baumgartner was up to the task at the free throw line, hitting seven of 10 over the final three-plus minutes.
The Master's managed to shoot 50.0 percent (7-of-14) in the fourth period, but the Lions shot 4-of-5 beyond the arc and leaned on Baumgartner's 13 points to withstand any comeback.
Why Is It Important?: Vanguard defeated its first ranked opponent this season, handing The Master's just its third loss of the 2021-22 campaign. It was a statement win for the Lions after losing a tough game at Westmont just two nights earlier.
What Was Said?: "I was proud of our fight tonight and our ability to get through some interesting calls," said Head Coach Russ Davis. "We hit big shots all night. Alexa was clutch all night from distance and Lauren played great on her birthday. We needed to bounce back and we did 100 percent, especially without our two All-Americans Gabriela Rosas (SR/Chihuahua, Mexico) and Michaella Elad (SR/Ontario, CA). Great win. Fanny was huge in the first half and Melissa was just tough to handle."
What's Next?: The Lions return home for their final two games in The Pit next week. VU hosts San Diego Christian on Thursday, February 17 at 5:30 p.m. Senior Night will take place on Saturday, February 19 against Hope International.
