College Roundup: Vanguard women’s basketball denied

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL

Pikeville 77, Vanguard 57

INDEPENDENCE, Mo. — Senior All-American Melissa Norman posted her NAIA-best 23rd double-double of the season with 14 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Lions in the second round of the NAIA Tournament on Friday.

Junior Claire Lamunu had 12 points and 12 rebounds off the bench for Vanguard, which ends its season at 25-7.

Norman and Lamunu were both five for eight from the field, but the rest of the Lions were a combined 12 for 47 (25.5%).

Vanguard, ranked No. 6 the final NAIA regular-season poll, had 23 turnovers, 17 of which were created by Pikeville steals.

Kentucky-based UPike (25-8), ranked No. 23 in the latest NAIA poll, made eight of 19 three-point attempts (42.1%) and shot 46.3% from the field (31 for 67) to advance to Saturday’s quarterfinals. The Bears were led by Aundrea Matchen, who sank nine of 15 field-goal attempts on her way to 20 points.

Sophomore reserve guard Kandyce Smith had 10 points and four assists in 19 minutes for the Lions, for whom junior Maya Kennedy had five points four assists and six turnovers.

Kennedy was two for 10 from the field, while Smith made four of 12 field-goal attempts.

Vanguard led, 20-18, at the end of the first quarter, but were outscored in the each of the three remaining quarters.

It was the Lions’ 15th straight trip to the national tournament, their 18th in 20 seasons under Coach Russ Davis.

— From staff reports

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BASEBALL

Vanguard 3, Menlo 2

Seven proved to be a fortuitous number for the host Lions in the Golden State Athletic Conference game Friday.

Sean Isaac earned his seventh win in eight decisions, Jose Rojas hit his seventh home run, and Michael Jordan posted his seventh save of the season to lead the No. 18-ranked Lions.

Isaac allowed five hits and struck out 10 in eight innings, and Jordan fanned two in a perfect ninth.

Rojas went two for three with two runs batted in to raise his average to .495. The senior shortstop has 34 RBIs and 46 hits this season.

Sam Neufeld had the other RBI for Vanguard, for which Paul Keating was two for two.

It was the fourth straight win for the Lions (20-6-1, 10-3 in conference), who have own seven of their last eight and are 8-1-1 in their last 10.

No. 25-ranked Menlo is 21-9, 8-5.

The two teams play a doubleheader on Saturday at Vanguard, beginning at 11 a.m.

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MEN’S VOLLEYBALL

Orange Coast def. Palomar

Gianluca Grasso and Matthew Vjkic both had 11 kills to lead the host Pirates to a 25-10, 25-14, 25-21 victory in Pacific Coast Conference play Friday.

OCC improved to 12-2, 5-1 in conference.

Palomar is 1-8, 1-5.

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BEACH VOLLEYBALL

Doubleheader

HUNTINGTON BEACH — Orange Coast College split a pair of matches Friday, topping Saddleback, 5-0, and falling, 4-1, to Riverside.

Freshmen Susie Packard and Lauren Wilson earned the only match victory against Riverside and topped their Saddleback opponents, 21-6, 21-8.

Diana Che and Tiffany Boykin posted a 21-7, 21-5 win against Saddleback.

OCC is 2-2.

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SOFTBALL

Doubleheader

Host Vanguard University swept a two from William Jessup in Golden State Athletic Conference play on Friday.

Alexandra Olvera threw a complete-game three-hitter and allowed one run in a 4-1 triumph in Game 1.

Emily Hall was two for three with three runs batted in to lead the Lions’ seven-hit attack in the opener.

Summer Penner was one for three with one run and a stolen base for the No. 18-ranked Lions.

In Game 2, Payton Ross was two for three with two RBIs and one run, while Britany Heinle was two for two with one RBI and one run for the Lions (19-14, 3-5 in conference).

Taylor Doyle pitched a complete-game, allowing five hits and earning the win in the second game.

William Jessup is 6-14, 2-4.