by La Mirda, Calif.- The Lions (8-3) make it two straight victories defeating Evangel University (Mo.) by a score of 61-56. Riley Holsinger (Nez Perce Tribe) scored 24 points (8-17 FG’s) and grabbed 8 rebounds; Samantha Doucette (JR/Irvine, CA) 16 points including 6-8 from the charity stripe.
In the opening five minutes of the contest, the teams were locked in a seesaw battle for the lead.
Evangel jumped out to an early 12-7 advantage on a good three point attempt by Taylor Longley. Vanguard returned serve and ended up tying the game at 12-12 at the 13:39 mark. The Crusaders created an eight point lead on a triple by Reggine Brown, assisted by Amanda Landolt.
The Lions trimmed the deficit to 27-26 with a shade under six minutes left before the intermission. Vanguard grabbed a 36-33 lead with 1:26 remaining on a layup by Doucette.
Brown dropped in a layup for the Crusaders as time expired to knot the game at 38-38 heading into halftime.
VU harnessed a 10 point scoring advantage in the point as well as maintaining a 15-0 dominance in second chance and fast break points. Holsinger scored 11 in the first half for the Lions as well as Doucette scoring 10 points and Maya Kennedy (SO/Huntington Beach, CA) contributing seven points.
Evangel featured two players who each scored nine points in the first period: Allison Swanson and Landolt.
The team that exited the locker room for the Lions was much different than we saw in the first half. They quickly jumped out to an eight point lead and never trailed in the final period of the game. The 46-38 lead at the 14:58 mark was the largest advantage Vanguard would hold in the contest.
Evangel trimmed the lead to two points on two occasions (with 8:47 and 5:31 remaining in the game). Each time, the Lions would counter and increase the lead, as they coasted home to the five point victory.
“Tonight was a true team victory!,” said coach Jana Pearson. “We rallied together, showed trust in one another and our preparation.”
Vanguard led all statistical categories except falling behind 17-7 in bench scoring.
Coach Pearson continued, “I am extremely proud of how everyone- players to bench coaches- stepped up tonight and did what we had to do to pull it out. We grew as a family tonight.”
The Lions continue game play at Biola University where they take on Bethesda University of California tomorrow starting at 5:30 PM. VU defeated Bethesda 74-73 earlier this season.
