LONG BEACH, Calif. – The Lions opened their 2025 season 2-0 at the PacWest/GNAC Crossover Tournament to be named the Pacific West Conference Team of the Week in the first weekly poll. The Blue and Gold share the honor with Dominican who also went 2-0 to start their year.

VU were a combined +46 over their two wins, and started the season with a 65-54 win last Friday over Montana State Billings. Emma Schaaf, last year's PacWest Freshman of the Year, led the way with 13 points going 6-9 from the field. Transfer Kaylee Byon tallied 12 points and freshman Micaela Hanning had seven points, seven dimes and six rebounds. The Lions shot 69% (11-16) from the field in the third quarter and notched 70% (7-10) of their total free throws to claim their season opener.

On Saturday, the Lions made it back-to-back wins with a dominant 76-41 showcase against Simon Fraser. The Lion bench nearly outscored SFU alone, scoring 40 points to the Red Leafs' eventual 41. Schaaf put up another game-high performance, this time finishing with 19 points and six rebounds, with three coming on the offensive glass. In her second game as a Lion, freshman Kayla Boozer earned her first career double-double, piling 13 points and 11 rebounds. Ashlin Crabtree was the next highest scorer, firing 75% (3-4) of her three pointers to notch nine points. The Lions outscored SFU 44-24 in the second half, shooting a razor sharp 56% (18-32) from the field. They also led in points off turnovers 18-1 in the final two quarters.

The Lions head to the Johnson Sports Center in Nampa, Idaho for a two-game stretch to close the calendar month. They start with Central Washington on Friday at 5 pm, then take on Northwest Nazarene on Saturday for the second of a back to back.