Lions are loaded for another NAIA run

Barry Faulkner

Vanguard University women’s basketball coach Russ Davis has averaged

24.4 wins in eight seasons, 29.5 the last two, and has guided the

NAIA Division I program onto the short list of perennial national

powers.

The Lions won a school single-season record 31 games last season,

before losing in the quarterfinals of the NAIA tournament, after

making their first Final Four appearance in 2002-03 with a 28-10

campaign.

But despite returning all five starters, including two

All-Americans, and adding two strong players in recruiting, Davis

said establishing a national title as an ultimatum rather than a goal

would be a big mistake.

“We can’t think that way,� Davis said when asked if anything less

than a national title would be a disappointment this season.

“Our [Golden State Athletic Conference] has gotten to the point

where if you win the GSAC championship, you can compete for a

national title.

“But we have such incredible conference competition -- and this is

the best our conference has been since I’ve been here -- you don’t

have the luxury of thinking ahead to March. You have to come out

ready to play, because there are six or seven [conference] teams,

maybe eight or nine, that can beat you on any given night.�

In addition to that rugged conference competition, the Lions have

what Davis calls his toughest schedule to date.

Vanguard just returned from the Rotary Classic in Jackson, Tenn.,

the site of the annual NAIA tournament, where some of the top NAIA

schools provided one another an ample measuring stick.

Vanguard (4-1), ranked No. 2 in the NAIA, defeated No. 6

Freed-Hardeman, but lost to No. 4 Union in the tournament.

“We also play [national power] Oklahoma City in the GSAC Classic

and we play Cedarville [Ohio, Dec. 17], which went 35-3 last year and

played in the NAIA Division II title game,� Davis said.

But this year’s Vanguard squad, though only nine players strong,

has enough firepower to make national title aspirations realistic.

Point guard Lisa Faulkner, a 5-5 senior who became Vanguard’s

initial first-team All-American last season after transferring from

UC Irvine, will attempt to lead the nation in assists for a second

straight year.

The GSAC Player of the Year averaged 9.8 assists and 13 points as

a junior, but may have even more scorers to distribute to this

season.

Kelly Schmidt, a 6-0 sophomore from Arizona, earned second-team

All-American laurels after averaging 19.8 points and 8.7 rebounds and

shooting 57.8% from the field as a freshman.

Rachel Besse, a 6-3 sophomore, emerged as a starter last season,

when she averaged 11.1 points and 7.4 rebounds en route to

all-conference honors. And her improvement has continued, Davis said.

Lacey Mills, a senior guard who made the NAIA All-Tournament team

last season, is the team’s best perimeter threat.

She averaged 11.1 points and netted 99 three-pointers as a junior,

but opened this season by draining a single-game record 11 three

balls en route to 33 points in a 129-46 romp over Bethany. She

averaged 19.1 points through four games.

Lacey Burns (10 points and six rebounds per game as a freshman)

rounds out the veteran starting five, but freshman Melissa Cook, an

Orange County All-Star out of El Dorado High, will be counted upon to

contribute starter-like production.

“In our alumni game, she had 17 points, 12 rebounds and 15

assists,� Davis said of Cook. “She’s probably one of the best

freshmen we’ve ever had.�

Cook averaged 11.5 points in the first four games.

Also adding depth will be 6-3 sophomore Andrea Jacobson, a Brea

Olinda High product who began her collegiate career at the University

of San Diego.

“We’re much deeper in the post and I think everyone has improved,�

Davis said.

Sophomore Lindsey McClellan, who had knee surgery after last

season, is not expected to be ready to play this season, Davis said.

Jennifer Wilcox (back) and Jessica Lenderman (Achilles) also

failed to return from injuries, and Cecilia Josefsson, who averaged

six points last season, elected to return to Sweden.

Lindsey Rinke, a 5-10 freshman from Arizona, and Anna Dittenbir, a

5-5 sophomore returner, round out a roster that scrimmages regularly

against former male high school players in practice.

“A big question for us this year will be whether [the players] can

handle having a big target on their chest every time they touch the

floor,� Davis said.