Costa Mesa -- Vanguard women's basketball faced Arizona Christian for the first time this season Thursday night in a thrilling contest. The Lions went down early but erased large deficits to force overtime but lost at 82-80 in the extra frame. VU falls to 8-10 overall and 4-9 in the Golden State Athletic Conference. ACU goes to 18-8, 7-7 in the GSAC.
What Happened? Vanguard, wearing pink for their breast cancer awareness game, would strike first, with Airiana Madanski (SO/Gilbert, AZ) making a sweeping baseline run to put in a layup 18 seconds in. The Firestorm would respond with a three but Estefania Giner (JR/Chihuahua, Mexico) made a jumper from just outside the blocks to give the Lions a 4-3 lead. That would be the final lead VU would have until late in the game, as the visitors would do enough to stay ahead throughout the contest. ACU would go up 13-8 by the midway point of the first quarter, with Melissa Akullu (SO/Kampala, Uganda) getting the only four points for VU over that span. Madanski and Lauren Baumgartner (JR/Meridian, ID) would combine for five points to make it 15-13 Arizona Christian, but the final three minutes-plus saw the Firestorm roll away to a 23-17 lead.
The second quarter was much the same. ACU would take command, going up 30-21 with six minutes left in the half and holding the Lions throughout the frame. Madanski would make two threes over the final two minutes, but a layup and a deep three with four seconds to go put the Firestorm ahead 43-29 at the break. The Lions shot 35% in the first period and 27.8% in the second, while ACU shot 56.3% and then 38.9% to close out the half.
The third quarter began the slow comeback for VU. Akullu and Giner both hit jumpers within the first 90 seconds and Baumgartner delivered another three for the Lions. Arizona Christian responded with a 5-0 run themselves to take some wind out of the Vanguard sails. Another jumper with 4:47 to go in the third put the Lions down 52-36, forcing the home side to call a timeout. After another accurate shot from Giner, Akullu would do the rest of the scoring for Vanguard, netting seven points as the clock wound down to end the period with Arizona Christian ahead 57-45.
Akullu began the final quarter with a quick two to narrow the lead to 10 and two made free throws from Madanski put the gap to single digits. Again the Firestorm made a three but Gabriela Rosas (SR/Chihuahua, Mexico) and Akullu each made shots to keep ACU within reach. Free throws from Giner and a deep three from Rosas put VU to within two at 60-58, as Arizona Christian called a timeout to try to right the ship. They did so perfectly, with a splashdown on a three-point shot, but a layup from Baumgartner and another short-range jumper from Giner made it 63-62 ACU.
Then the Firestorm went on a 10-2 run that seemed to be the dagger that ended the Lion's comeback attempt. However, the team dug deep, and over the final two minutes, VU played hard and got some luck. Madanski got things going with a three and VU then immediately called a timeout. A turnover on the inbounds play eventually led to a lay-up for Akullu, as she put in the third offensive rebound in the possession. A missed three from ACU led to another triple for Madanski to make it 73-72. Baumgartner got fouled with seven seconds to go but made only one of two shots, sending the game to OT knotted at 73-all.
Akullu gave the Lions their first lead of the night with the first make of the extra period but then the Blue and Gold went cold, as ACU again put up an 8-0 run. Once more, back came Vanguard, with a three from Giner and a two from Madanski. The Firestorm led 81-79 with under a minute to go but VU kept getting looks, with Baumgartner getting fouled again with 15 seconds left. Again making only one of two, the Lions tried to make a steal on the inbounds but failed and took too long to foul. ACU made one free throw and the Lions took their last timeout and got to advance the ball into the attacking end. Unfortunately, a bad throw went over the head of Rosas with 2.2 seconds left and there was not enough time to get a shot away, as the Firestorm survived for the 82-80 win.
Vanguard shot 40.3% from the field for the game, 28% from downtown, and made 11-14 free throws. Akullu had a double-double at halftime and ended with 26 points and 19 rebounds. Madanski made four threes and had 23 points, while Giner was clutch on the night, putting up 15 points and nabbing eight rebounds. Baumgartner had six assists to pace the lineup.
What was said? "Tough loss," said Head Coach Russ Davis. "We really fought hard to get a chance to win in the last 10 minutes of regulation. When we learn to put together complete games, we will get the wins. ACU is very well-coached and took it to us for three quarters. Alvarez made big shots all night (33 points for the game). We will keep working and getting better."
What's Next? The team will play again on Saturday, February 5, at noon against OUAZ.
