BURNABY, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- The NCAA Division II era for Vanguard women's basketball began with a narrow 77-71 defeat to Simon Fraser at West Gym Friday afternoon. After a tough finish to the first quarter, the NCAA newcomers found their rhythm and strapped themselves in for a competitive contest that featured 14 ties and six lead changes. The match was deadlocked at 55 going into the fourth quarter, but a 10-2 Red Leaf run settled the score in favor of the hosts.

Sarah Matossian and Halle Si'i combined for over half of the VU points, as the duo garnered 22 points each. Matossian also ended the match with a double-double as she snagged a game-high 12 rebounds. Jaryn Madsen shot 50% (3-6) from downtown on her way to 12 points and a career-best three blocks.  Emma Schaaf made a mark in her debut for the Blue and Gold, as the freshman had eight points, eight boards, and two blocks.

Both teams had relatively even shooting splits, as VU shot 45.3% (29-64) from the field and 31% (6-19) from three, while SFU had a 41.9% mark (26-32) from the floor and hit 32% (8-25) of their three-pointers. The Red Leafs did take advantage from the charity stripe, as they cashed in on 10 more total attempts (17-21) than Vanguard (7-11). VU committed 21 turnovers to Simon Fraser's 17.

Vanguard's loss tips off their season at 0-1, while Sophia Wisotzki's game-high 28 points improves SFU to 3-1.

What Happened? Madsen did not miss in the first quarter, as she nailed two straight jumpers amid VU's largest lead of the game at 7-2. The Red Leafs' full-court press, however, proved problematic, as they forced 10 VU turnovers in the frame and profited from the extra looks to lead 23-13 after 10 minutes played. Vanguard was more polished with the rock in the second quarter and shot 50% (9-18) to get back on the tracks. Buckets from Matossian, Si'i, and Hunter Simon cut the Red Leafs' lead to 23-22 as the Lions opened the quarter on a 9-0 run.

Though SFU maintained an eight-point cushion entering the third quarter, Vanguard's relentless aggression on the glass paid dividends as the Blue and Gold found six of their 13 offensive rebounds. Si'i created five straight VU points, as she spun a gorgeous pass in transition to Matossian and converted on a three-point opportunity to make it 49-48 SFU. Akilah Kubi then helped the Lions grab three straight offensive rebounds, as the sophomore ripped down a big board and finished off the glass to tie the contest at 55-55 at the end of the third period.

While Vanguard continued their presence in the paint in the final quarter, they struggled from behind the arc, shooting just 1-6 (16.7%) from three. The Lions also had trouble protecting the ball again, as they had six turnovers in the final frame, including four in the first two minutes. Madsen's triple stopped the bleeding to trim the SFU edge to 59-58 with 7:44 left in the game, but the frequent VU turnovers allowed the Red Leafs to keep the ball rolling in transition. Wisotzki led the charge on SFU's definitive 10-2 run, as she would score or assist on 15 of the 22 Simon Fraser points in the final period. 

What's Next? It's a quick turnaround for the Lions, as they'll continue their time in British Columbia with a game against Montana State Billings tomorrow at 1 pm.