By Ron Smith
January 25, 2018
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) In a spectacular display of team defense and rebounding prowess, #12 Westmont Women's Basketball (13-5, 6-1 GSAC) defeated #2 Vanguard (14-3, 4-3) by a score of 73-38 in Murchison Gymnasium.  
 
"We have so much respect for Vanguard," said Westmont head coach Kirsten Moore. "They are such a good program year in and year out. It has been a long time since we beat them. "In the first quarter, we let them have nine offensive rebounds. They are number one in the nation in rebounding and in rebounding margin.
 
"We had a lead, but we thought we better fix that rebounding or we were not going to keep our lead. The rest of the game we only gave up four offensive rebounds in three quarters. We played some incredible defense that was smart as well as gritty."
 
At game's end, the Warriors held a 45-33 rebound advantage.
 
Entering the game, Westmont was the third-ranked defensive team in the NAIA, allowing just 50.59 points per game. Vanguard was the fourth-ranked defensive team, allowing just 53.19 points per game.
 
"Defense is at the foundation of our program and our success," said Moore.  
 
Westmont held Vanguard scoreless for the first four and one-half minutes of the game while going on a 9-0 run. After a layup by Lauren McCoy, Maud Ranger drained a three. McCoy scored again in the paint and Morgan Haskin did the same to conclude the run.
 
By the conclusion of the opening frame, Westmont held a 15-6 advantage.
 
The second quarter saw no let up from the Warriors who outscored the Lions 25-9 to take a 40-15 lead into the intermission. Westmont shot 57.7 percent in the first half, connecting on 15 of 26 attempts from the floor, including six of 12 from 3-point range.
 
The third quarter was the most productive for the Lions and the only one in which they reached double-digit scoring. Vanguard tallied 15 points, but the Warriors scored one better to possess a 26-point advantage headed into the final frame.
 
Westmont remained tough defensively in the fourth quarter, limiting the Lions to eight points while scoring 17.
 
Offensively, Lauren McCoy led the Warriors with 18 points. She also contributed 13 rebounds and four assists.
 
"McCoy's line shows how incredible she was," said Moore. "She does it the right way. I can't say enough about her."
 
Jae Ferrin also had a double-double, tallying 14 points and 10 rebounds. Lauren Tsuneishi went five of nine from 3-point range to rack up 15 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists.
 
"Jae gives us so much energy and spark," said Moore. "Lauren has been putting in extra time and it really showed."
 
The Warriors recorded 18 assists on 27 field goals in tonight's game, led by Joy Krupa who notched seven. Krupa also tallied six points, nine rebounds, three steals and two blocks."
 
In other GSAC action, #24 Arizona Christian (16-4, 5-2) downed #15 Menlo (17-4, 5-2) by a score of 101-73 while William Jessup (11-11, 2-5) bested San Diego Christian (7-14, 0-7) 63-59. Hope International (15-7, 3-4) posted an 81-59 win over The Master's (13-6, 3-4).
 
Halfway through the regular GSAC season, with all teams having played each other once, Westmont sits atop the GSAC Standings with a one game lead over Menlo and Arizona Christian and a two-game lead over Vanguard. The Master's and Vanguard are three games back.
 
Next week, the Warriors will travel north to take on Menlo in Atherton at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. On Saturday, Westmont will arrive in Rocklin for a 1:00 p.m. game against William Jessup.