COSTA MESA -- For the second straight game this week, the Vanguard women's basketball team owned the score sheet and controlled the game from start to finish, as the squad took care of the Life Pacific Warriors Saturday night. The Lions ran up a 94-29 victory, holding LPU to single digits in three of the four quarters.  Melissa Akullu (JR/Kampala, Uganda) once more led the team in scoring and rebounds, posting 32 points and 18 boards for her sixth double-double in her past seven games.  Vanguard improves to 14-4 overall and 7-3 in Golden State Athletic Conference play.  LPU drops to 5-5 overall and 1-9 in GSAC play.

What Happened?  Akullu was 15-for-18 from the floor on the night, as she could barely be contained in the paint, accounting for all but 18 of VU's points down low.  It was also a good shooting night for Lauren Baumgartner (SR/Meridian, ID), who hit two threes and went 6-of-9 from the field to net 14 points.  Equaling her production was Sarah Matossian (SO/Laguna Niguel, CA), who played 21 minutes off the bench and put up 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting for the game.  Estefania Giner (SR/Chihuahua, Mexico) was close to a triple-double, as she had eight points, a team-high nine assists, and seven rebounds (second on the team) in the game.  Jaryn Madsen (FR/Warden, WA) had 10 points and Halle Si'i (FR/Long Beach, CA) tied Matossian in assists on the night, as each collected six.

The Blue and Gold led the entire way, with Akullu converting an offensive rebound to open the scoring.  Baumgartner then hit her first shot, as the Vanguard train left LPU behind to the tune of a 14-2 opening run.  Rachel Spinosa made a pair of threes to help the Warriors put up a game-high 11 points in the first period, but the guests were down by 12 after one quarter 23-11. 

Vanguard's offense continued to fly down the tracks in the second frame, as four points from Akullu and a three from Baumgartner opened the period with a 7-3 stretch.  Madsen then got hot just past the four-minute mark, as she splashed down two threes and converted a layup for eight points in three minutes.  Matossian also made her presence felt late in the half, making a layup with 27 seconds to go and burying a triple as time expired to send the Lions into halftime ahead 47-18.

Life Pacific struggled in the second half to develop open looks or finish the few chances they did create, as the Warriors shot 16.7% (2-12) in the third and fourth quarters.  The Warriors also had eight turnovers in the second half, with five in the fourth quarter alone, while VU had four in total over the second 20 minutes of action. 

The Blue and Gold hit full steam in the third quarter, outscoring LPU 35-6.  The Lions shot 78.9% from the field in the third, hitting 15 of the 19 shots attempted, as the lineup went 3-for-6 from downtown in the process.  Akullu had 12 points in the third and Baumgartner had seven.  VU did slow some in the fourth quarter but still arrived at the end of the line victorious, with the 94-29 win tying the 2019 triumph at home (110-29) for the fewest points allowed against the Warriors all-time.

Vanguard shot 48.2% from the field for the game, 30.3% from deep, and made all four free throws attempted.  LPU shot 23.9% for the contest, went 14.3% from beyond the arc, and converted four free throws on 10 tries.  The Lions also held a 48-29 edge in total rebounds and a healthy 18-5 lead in offensive rebounds.

What was Said?  "The team played well as a whole tonight," said Assistant Coach Sierra Vaglica.  "Our energy was fantastic the whole game and we came to play from the jump.  We were very selfless with the ball and we also took care of the ball as well.  I am looking forward to carrying this momentum into the rest of our GSAC games."

Why is it Important?  Vanguard is now 9-0 all-time against LPU.  The win keeps the Lions a game behind Menlo and Hope International, who are tied for second at 8-3 in conference.  Westmont remains first at 10-1.

What's Next? The Lions will return to the OCC Gym on Thursday when the Menlo Oaks pay a visit to Costa Mesa.  The women's game will tip off at 5:30 p.m.