COSTA MESA – Vanguard women's basketball dominated from start to finish over Jessup in a 60-41 rout, picking up a PacWest victory to conclude 2024 on Saturday at the Freed Center.
Four Lions scored in double figures, with junior guard Halle Si'i leading the way with 19 points. Freshman forward Emma Schaaf contributed 12 points and nine rebounds, while senior forward Sarah Matossian posted her second consecutive double-double, finishing with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
Junior Jaryn Madsen also notched 11 points. Both she and Schaaf knocked down three triples as the Lions finished the game with 11 threes.
VU turned 20 Jessup turnovers into 20 points and held the Warriors to 31.4 (16 of 51) percent shooting, including just 22.7 (5 of 22) percent from distance. The Lions played tough defense throughout with 12 steals spread out among eight players.
Vanguard, which won its sixth straight game to improve to 6-4 overall, sits atop the PacWest in a three-way tie with Azusa Pacific and Point Loma at 4-0.
No Warrior scored in double figures, with Andrea Jovicevic posting a team-best nine points. The Warriors fell to 6-4 overall and 2-2 in the PacWest.
What Happened?: The Lions held a 10-0 lead just under four minutes into the game behind threes from Schaaf and Si'i. Jessup did not score its first basket until the 4:17 mark, and another trey from Si'i ballooned VU's lead to 17-2. Si'i finished out the quarter with a jumper for a 22-5 lead.
The Lions kept the pressure on as Si'i buried two more shots to begin the second period as the Lion lead crested 20 for the first time at 26-5.
The Warriors were held scoreless until the 6:40 mark as Makaila Glynn's jumper cut the deficit to 26-7. Jessup continued on a 7-0 run to maneuver within 14 at 26-12. Back-to-back threes from Madsen and Schaaf pushed VU's lead to 32-14, and the home team went into the locker room at halftime with a 35-17 advantage.
VU clamped down on defense once again to start the second half, holding the Warriors without a point until Natalie Moulos hit two free throws at the 5:07 mark. At that point, VU's lead had expanded to 45-18 after beginning the quarter with another 10-0 run. Si'i and Aryanna Hudson helped the cause with two more three-pointers.
The largest lead of the game was 29 points, 50-21, on a layup from Matossian. The Blue and Gold took a 54-26 lead into the fourth period.
Jessup provided some pushback as a 9-1 run to start the fourth lowered its deficit to 55-35. After scoring 22, 13 and 19 points in each of the first three quarters, the Lions were limited to just six points in the fourth, as the Warriors outscored them 15-6.
What Was Said?: "Really proud of how we came out today," said Head Coach Russ Davis. "We played solid defense and got a nice lead. Anytime you hold a good team to 41 points is impressive. Going into the new year with a six game win streak and first place in the PacWest is special. The ladies have been working hard. I really believe our best basketball is still ahead of us. Still trying to figure things out offensively. We have some time off before we head to Hawai'i for a couple more conference games. Happy holidays to all."
What's Next?: The Lions ring in 2025 with a battle on the islands, facing Hawaii Pacific on Thursday, January 2 at 6:30 p.m. (PST).
