COSTA MESA -- Make it three wins in a row for the Vanguard women's basketball team, as the Lions won 86-49 on Thursday night over OUAZ.  VU dampened the Spirit in the first quarter, taking a 24-9 lead into the second period.  Vanguard would score 20-plus points in the next two frames as well, with Melissa Akullu (JR/Kampala, Uganda) dominating the score sheet, collecting game-highs of 29 points and 14 rebounds.  The Lions improve to 10-3 overall and 4-2 in Golden State Athletic Conference action.  OUAZ falls to 5-9 overall and 1-5 in conference play.

What Happened?  Akullu had nine of her points in the first quarter, including the opening basket 90 seconds in, as she equaled the point production of OUAZ in the quarter on her own.  Lauren Baumgartner (SR/Meridian, ID) and Jaryn Madsen (FR/Warden, WA) made back-to-back threes around the 7:30 mark to put the Blue and Gold up 8-2, as the home side pulled away with a 15-4 run over the first five minutes of the contest.  Akullu also scored five of the final nine points for Vanguard as the quarter came to a close.

A triple for Baumgartner opened the second period for the Lions, and despite a short 4-0 run by OUAZ, Akullu countered that with five points of her own to put VU ahead 32-15.  Halle Si'i (FR/Long Beach, CA) started to rack up some points over the final five minutes of the half, as OUAZ tried to deal with Akullu.  She drained a three with 2:32 to go and made six points over the last 27 seconds, courtesy of two and-one conversions.  Ahead 46-24 at halftime, VU shot 52.9% in the first quarter and 32% in the second period.

Vanguard would continue to roll on the other side of the intermission, as the squad put up a game-high 25 points in the third.  The Spirit made the opening basket of the frame, but Akullu answered that with five unanswered points of her own.  Estefania Giner (SR/Chihuahua, Mexico) followed that with a downtown swish and a layup to collect five points of her own to increase the lead to 56-28.  Airiana Madanski (JR/Gilbert, AZ) then found a couple of open looks, as she made a pair of threes around the 4:30 mark of the frame to put the Lions ahead 64-31.  Akullu would score the final six points of the period to take the lead to 71-37 with the fourth quarter remaining.

The final act was the lowest-scoring frame of the contest, as both teams combined for 27 points.  The Blue and Gold made 15 of those 27, as the entire lineup chipped in over the final 10 minutes.  Si'i made a three just past the seven-minute mark, with Madsen and Faith Boss (FR/Torrance, CA) each draining threes over the next two possessions.  Madanski made the final jumper of the night and Madsen made two free throws with 36 seconds to go to conclude the scoring, as Vanguard claimed an 86-49 victory.

VU shot 41.6% from the floor for the game, went 38.7% from downtown, and 71.4% from the free throw line.  OUAZ shot 43.1% from the floor, 42.9% from beyond the arc, and 40% from the charity stripe.  Akullu went 13-for-21 from the field and 3-of-6 from the free throw line.  Of her 14 rebounds, 11 came off the offensive glass and she also notched five steals to lead the team.  Si'i had 16 points and made all four free throws she attempted.  Madsen had 11 points and five rebounds, while Sarah Matossian (SO/Laguna Niguel, CA) was second on the team with eight rebounds.

Why is it Important?  The Lions are now 6-1 all-time against the Spirit.  The win moves Vanguard into a tie with William Jessup for third in the GSAC, one game behind Hope International and two back of Westmont.

What was Said?  "We played hard tonight," said Head Coach Russ Davis.  "We just need to keep focusing on getting better each day.  Melissa was all over the offensive boards tonight."

What's Next? Vanguard will play next on Saturday, January 7, at noon, as the team faces Arizona Christian.