By Kaci Mexico

February 21, 2017

(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) In a matchup between two top-ten ranked teams, sixth ranked Westmont Women's Basketball (23-4, 12-3 GSAC) faced #3 Vanguard (26-2, 14-1) with a chance to topple the number one team in the Golden State Athletic Conference – the Warriors came within three points with two seconds remaining, and ultimately could not bridge the gap, losing 40-43.

The Lions outscored the Warriors 11-7 in the first quarter and improved upon this lead in the second half of the second quarter when they went on a 12-0 run to take an 18 point lead. Vanguard held the Warriors to only five points in the second quarter and the first half ended in a score of 28-12.

In the third quarter, the Warriors outscored the Lions 10-8 to come within 14 points (22-36) and in the fourth quarter Westmont went on a 12-2 comeback run to come within three points with only 1:15 remaining in the game (38-41).

With 17 seconds remaining, Vanguard's Claire Lamunu made two free throws to give the Lions a five point lead; however, Westmont's Kayla Sato answered with a layup to make it a three point game with seven seconds remaining. With two seconds left, the Warriors fouled a Vanguard player who missed both free throws and the Warriors tried to hit a three-pointer in the last second, but ultimately came up short.

Overall, the Lions and Warriors each had 44 rebounds on the night. Additionally, Vanguard shot at 28.6 percent and the Warriors at 26.3. Aysia Shellmire led in points for the Warriors with 14, while Sato had a double-double and led in rebounds with 10 points and 10 rebounds.  Vanguard's Lamunu led all scorers and all rebounders with 21 points and 12 rebounds.

If the Warriors win their final conference game on Saturday, they will finish GSAC play tied in second with #17 Biola (25-6, 13-3). However, since Biola defeated Vanguard in a head-to-head matchup, the highest the Warriors can seed in the GSAC tournament is third.

Westmont will travel to El Cajon this Saturday to play San Diego Christian (16-10, 6-8) in their last regular season conference game– tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.