By Ron Smith
February 8, 2025
 
(COSTA MESA, Calif.) Something had to give. Westmont Women's Basketball (15-6, 11-3 PacWest) entered Wednesday night's game at Vanguard (13-7, 11-3) with a nine game winning streak. The Lions had never lost in the newly opened Freed Center, having won all eight of its previous home games.
 
At the end of 40 minutes of play, the Warriors preserved their streak, extending it to double digits with a 59-56 victory.
 
"I am proud of how our team keeps pulling together, keeps building and keeps growing," said Westmont's head coach Kirsten Moore. "There were a lot of different people who stepped up at different moments. Our bench energy and focus were super great.
 
"A big difference in the game was our presence on the boards. Defensively, I thought we did a great job against a dangerous offensive team."
 
The Warriors outrebounded the Lions 45-31 and held Vanguard to a 33.9% field goal percentage. Lisa Kiefer continued to have dominance on the boards, pulling down 15 rebounds. Sage Kramer nabbed eight errant shots and Jazmyn Shipp collected six.
 
The box score reveals a balanced team effort on both ends of the court. All eight Warriors that played grabbed at least one rebound and all eight scored.
 
Shipp, Kramer and Molly Garnand reached double figures with 13 points for Shipp and 11 each for Kramer and Garnand. Kate Goostrey added another eight and Bailey Fong posted seven.
 
The first quarter was closely contested with 11 lead changes. Garnand tallied nine points in the first quarter on four of five shooting including a triple in the Warriors' final possession. That put Westmont on top 17-16 at the end of the opening frame.
 
The Warriors' defense held the Lions scoreless for the first five minutes of the second quarter and limited Vanguard to just eight points in the period. Vanguard pulled to within four points (28-24) with a minute and one-half to go, but a trey by Mariah Brown in the final minute gave Westmont a 31-24 halftime advantage.
 
Westmont kept the pressure on in the penultimate period, stretching the margin to 15 points (49-34) near the end of the third quarter. During the third period alone, the Warriors outrebounded the Lions 13-4. A three-ball by Vanguard's Aryanna Hudson in the final ten seconds reduced the advantage to 12 (49-37) headed into the final frame.
 
However, as they are wont to do, the Lions roared back in the fourth quarter, posting a 10-1 run to make it a three point game (50-47). After a couple of free throws by Kramer, Emma Schaaf scored in the paint to make it a 52-49 game.
 
With 3:15 to play, Vanguard pulled with one (52-51) with a layup by Hudson. Kiefer grabbed an offensive board on Westmont's next possession, and Bailey Fong made the most of the second chance opportunity by draining her second long-distance bucket of the night.
 
After a layup by the Lions' Halle Si'i made the score 55-53, Shipp collected an offensive rebound and scored on a put-back to restore Westmont's lead to four (57-53). Si'i was fouled and converted one of two attempts, then Kramer was fouled.
 
With 1:45 to play, Kramer made two more free throws - for the game, she was nine of ten from the charity stripe. It would be the last points Westmont would score, but it was enough. Vanguard's Ashlin Crabtree scored on a layup with 1:24 remaining to produce the final score of 59-56. Westmont's defense kept Vanguard at bay the rest of the way.
 
"We have had so many battles with Vanguard over the years and tonight was the same," assessed Moore. "That history has always continued to push our programs to be better. We always know it is going to be a battle with them. I was really impressed with their team and how they played tonight.
 
"We definitely saw a challenging and competitive and fun game tonight. It was fun to come out on the winning end."
 
With the win, Westmont moves into a tie with Vanguard for third place in the PacWest standings. The Warriors and Lions are one game behind second-place Point Loma who has a conference mark of 12-2 and a game and one-half behind Azusa Pacific who leads the standings with a 13-2 PacWest record.
 
On Saturday afternoon, Westmont will host Point Loma at Murchison gymnasium as part of a women's and men's doubleheader. The women are set for a two o'clock start with the men scheduled to tip off at four o'clock.