Vanguard breezes into final

COSTA MESA — The top-ranked and unbeaten Vanguard University women’s basketball team is playing for its seniors. The Lions are playing for the Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament championship and, ultimately, an NAIA crown.

But Friday night, and for the remainder of the season, they were and are also playing for the name written on each of their shoes. The name of junior Melissa Cook, who tore meniscus in a knee in the second-to-last regular-season game Feb. 24.

Cook, a talented and versatile sixth man who had been averaging 9.8 points, 5.0 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 1.7 steals per game in 22 minutes, had surgery Thursday and is out for at least three months, Coach Russ Davis said.

Cook, known by her teammates for her passion for the game, was not in attendance Friday, as the top-seeded Lions dispatched No. 4-seeded Westmont, 85-46, in the GSAC Tournament semifinals at The Pit.

The Lions (27-0) will meet No. 2-seeded Pt. Loma Nazarene (24-6), ranked No. 7 in NAIA Division I, in Monday’s tournament title game at home at 7:30 p.m. The Sea Lions defeated No. 3-seeded Azusa Pacific, 75-62, Friday.

Vanguard had beaten Pt. Loma twice this season (66-49 on Feb. 20 in San Diego and 69-56 at home Jan. 16).

Davis said Cook is scheduled to be there Monday, cheering for the title she was supposed to be playing for on the court.

“It’s horrible,” Davis said of the injury to Cook, who tore an ACL late in the 2004-05 season as a freshman and missed the team’s postseason run. “But I’ve asked everyone to step up and pitch in two more rebounds, or an assist, or a basket here or there.”

With the 6-foot Cook, whom Davis said he could sub at all five positions, out, the Lions’ depth figures to get a test as the postseason continues.

No. 25-ranked Westmont (17-12) couldn’t force the issue Friday, as the Lions seized a 10-2 lead and continued to build that into a 42-22 halftime cushion.

Vanguard made 13 of 22 field-goal attempts in the first 20 minutes (59.1%), and finished 27 of 49 from the field (55.1%).

The Lions sank eight of 18 three-pointers, including five by junior GSAC Player of the Year Jessica Richter, who paced the winners with 27 points.

All-conference seniors Kelly Schmidt, Rachel Besse and Lacey Burns all finished with 14 points for the winners, for whom senior point guard Tiari Goold had 13 assists and only one turnover.

“I really liked how we ran the floor early in the second half and I thought Tiari played a great game,” Davis said.

Goold, who added two rebounds and two steals, said it was difficult playing without Cook in the building.

“We all wrote her name on our shoes,” Goold said. “We’re all hoping she’ll be back Monday night.”

Vanguard refused to let Westmont back in the game after halftime, as the hosts opened the second 20 minutes on a 19-2 run, capped by Schmidt’s three-point play.

The run included a pair of Richter three-pointers, four buckets by Besse — two on layins and two on midrange jumpers — as well as three turnovers by Westmont.

The Warriors, playing without all-conference sophomore Ali Mooty (sick) and senior Dani Russell (knee injury), finished with 18 turnovers and made just 16 of 60 field-goal attempts (26.7%).

Still, Westmont is expected to gain an at-large berth into the NAIA Tournament, scheduled March 14-20, at Oman Arena in Jackson, Tennessee.

Burns paced Vanguard with nine rebounds, while Besse was credited with four blocked shots.

Burns was four of six from the field, including two of four from threedom, while Schmidt, the 2005-06 GSAC and NAIA Player of the Year, also netted four of six field-goal tries.

Besse was six of 10 from the field and five Lions who attempted at least two free throws did not miss from the line.

Davis said he would love to see a big crowd Monday.

“I don’t think this community or this school will see a group of seniors like the one we have this year,” Davis said.

Golden State AthleticWestmont -- Tolle 9, Anderson 3, Heglund 8, Case 12, Stevens 2, Chessum 5, Johnson 5, Reynolds 2.

Conference Tournament

Semifinal

Vanguard 85, Westmont 46

3-pt. goals -- Case 3, Chessum 1, Johnson 1.

Fouled out -- Anderson, Heglund.

Vanguard -- Schmidt 14, Burns 14, Besse 14, Richter 27, Blied 5, Rinke 4, Jacobson 4, Butler 3.

3-pt. goals -- Richter 5, Burns 2, Blied 1.

Fouled out -- None.

Halftime -- 44-22, VU.