By Ron Smith
February 7, 2026
 
(SANTA BARBARA, Calif.) In a game marked by significant changes in momentum, Westmont Women's Basketball (16-6, 12-4 PacWest) loss a heartbreaker to the Lions of Vanguard (16-4, 12-3) on Saturday night in Murchison Gymnasium by the score of 73-70.
 
The first 17 1/2 minutes of play saw 10 lead changes and six ties, with neither team holding more than a five point advantage.
 
With the score tied at 31, however, Westmont went on an 11-2 run to end the second quarter. Navin Mallon scored five points in that span on a jumper and three free throws, while Jazymn Shipp and Bailey Fong each landed a triple to give the Warriors a 42-33 lead at the intermission.
 
With the resumption of play in the third quarter, Westmont continued their run, scoring the first 11 points of the second half to go up 53-33. Shipp landed a three and a layup while Molly Garnand, Fong and Mariah Brown all added a field goal.
 
At 4:36 to play in the third period, Fong struck from downtown, giving Westmont its largest lead of the game (58-37). However, over the rest of the quarter, Vanguard produced a 12-4 run to come within 13 points (62-49) headed into the final frame.
 
Vanguard continued its scoring barrage at the start of the fourth quarter, producing an 11-1 run to come within three points of the Warriors (63-60) with 5:58 to play.
 
Sage Kramer finally broke through for the Warriors with first a layup and then a triple to make the score 68-60 with 4:18 remaining. After a layup by Vanguard's Emma Schaff and a 3-pointer by Kaylee Byon made the score 68-65, Noemie Bariteau hit a couple of free throws to put the Warriors up 70-75 with 1:59 remaining. Unfortunately for Westmont, those were the last points the Warriors would score.
 
With 32 seconds remaining, Shaff drained a three to put the Lions on top 71-70. The Warriors had possession, but were unable to get a shot up before Vanguard's Kayla Boozer stole the ball. A pair of free throws by Aryanna Hudson with seven seconds to play accounted for the final score.
 
"We were getting stops defensively and I thought we were playing aggressively on both ends of the floor," said Westmont's head coach Kirsten Moore of her team's run in the second and third quarters. "Obviously, we got momentum. Unfortunately, that momentum shifted in a big way.
 
"Vanguard is a dangerous offensive team and they shot the lights out in the fourth quarter. That run really started in the second half of the third quarter. We were having a hard time getting stops. That is something we have been able to do all year. I am frustrated that what let us down was not being able to get stops on the defensive end.
 
"I thought offensively, we had a lot of good looks, but they didn't fall for us in the fourth quarter. We have to be able to get stops when we need it. I hope this continues to motivate us. For three-quarters of this game, we were a team that could play with anybody in our conference. I have a huge belief in this team that we can be really good, but it was a super disappointing result tonight."
 
Shipp led the Warriors in scoring with 18 and also pulled down eight rebounds. Bariteau notched 11 points while Garnand had nine. Fong and Mallon each tallied eight points. Kiefer was the Warriors' leading rebounder with 10.
 
Westmont concludes its five-game home stand on Wednesday, February 11, when they host the Golden Eagles of Concordia. Game time is at 5:30 p.m.