ROCKLIN, Calif. – Women's basketball made a big step toward its first potential Pacific West Conference title in school history with an 83-64 win over Jessup at Warrior Arena on Tuesday night. The PacWest Team of the Week makes it nine wins in a row, improving to 21-4 and 17-3 in the league. Jessup drops to 8-19 and 6-15 in conference action.

All 10 Lions who dressed out scored in VU's win, with all five starters breaching double figures. Leading Vanguard was Aryanna Hudson, who had 14 points (5-9 FG) and three assists. Emma Schaaf only missed one shot (6-7 FG) to claim 13 points, five boards, and a block. Kaylee Byon had her second-career double-double and first of the season with 12 points, 10 assists, and two steals, with just one turnover.

Akilah Kubi could not miss, going 5-5 to stamp 11 points, four steals, and three assists. Micaela Hanning had 10 points as the final Lion in double-figures.

The Blue and Gold had their second-highest assist total of the season (24) and highest on the road to lead 23-18 in the category. They also shot a season-best 56% (35-62) from the field, blanking Jessup's respectable 44% (24-54) stroke.

What Happened?
The Blue and Gold outscored Jessup in three of the four quarters, scoring 20+ in all but one.

Kubi opened the scoring off the high post pass from Schaaf. The center stepped out to the three-point line 40 seconds later, going from supplier to scorer for a 5-0 Lion start. Jessup jumped on the board with a midrange jumper and floored a 13-6 run to drive in front with 5:27 left in the quarter (13-11 JU).

VU made their next four field goals to put the Warriors back in check (19-15). Two came from longer range through Kubi and Byon, while Schaaf and Shayla O'Neil did the damage on the inside. The Lions shut out Jessup for the final 2:34 of the quarter with a Natalie Scherzer block, and five straight O'Neil points for a 22-17 score.

Vanguard's best three-point shooting quarter came in the second period as they went 4-10 from three. Jessup was also sharp; they matched their efficient three-point shooting clip from the first quarter at 60% (3-5). Hanning hit the first three as she came charging down the wing. Her five points in 26 seconds put VU up by 10 (27-17) and triggered an early media timeout from the Warriors.

Jessup jumped out to a 12-2 run out of the break, sinking two three-pointers and a pair of free throws to level the game at 29 apiece. Byon fashioned a steal and find for Hudson in the corner, who broke the near three-minute VU scoring drought to go back in front. Kubi also earned an offensive rebound and putback to rush the lead back up to five.

Turnovers continued to be a factor in the second quarter, both teams combining for 12 and scoring 16 points between them from the giveaways. The difference was the quarter's conclusion, where Vanguard tided up their play and forced five JU turnovers in the last five minutes to roll out to a 12-6 finish in the half (46-35 VU). Byon scored or assisted on nine of the 12 points of the run, which inlcuding the last three-point make of the interval, which was drained by Jaryn Madsen.

The game split open in the second half, with Jessup never coming within single digits in the final 20 minutes. Both teams took a nosedive in three-point shooting percentage, with VU going 3-14 from deep and JU going 2-10. Vanguard did not settle for three-point baskets, though, instead getting busy in the paint and letting the bench set the pace for a 15-8 lead over the Warriors.

VU's 68% (11-16) field goal third quarter started with a Byon jumper at the elbow. Jessup responded with what stood as their only three-point make of the quarter and rolled out a 21-10 run. The Warriors were only allowed seven tries from the field during the six-minute span, as VU pressured them into five turnovers.

Nyla Cabine had both of Vanguard's three-pointers in the quarter, going back-to-back from deep to finish out the frame (72-51 VU).

The last quarter was slower-paced and Vanguard's lowest scoring, with Jessup outpacing them 13-11. Hudson scored six of the VU net worth in the box score, and Scherzer fired the last Lion three-point make of the night to issue Vanguard's largest lead of the game at 26 (79-53 VU). The Warriors had a 7-2 scoring output through the last three minutes, but the Lions took the win for their ninth consecutive win in a row.

What's Next? It's off to Fresno for women's basketball as they face Fresno Pacific in the penultimate regular season game of the season, Thursday, Feb. 26, at 5 p.m.