By Beth Renkoski

11/03/09

Bears Overpower Lions

Berkeley, Calif. - The Vanguard Lions posted a solid showing against NCAA Division I University of California at the Haas Pavilion in Berkeley this evening.  Playing for the third day in a row, the NAIA No. 2-ranked Lions lost 101-81 in an Exhibition game against the 18th-ranked Cal Bears.

The Lions nearly maintained pace with the Bears in the first half, wrestling to a 34-34 tie before heading into the halftime break trailing by only four points, 46-42.  Vanguard was on fire from the three-point line in the first half, sinking six of eight shots from beyond the arc.  The Bears made 12-of-16 free throws to hold the edge despite shooting only 22% from three-point land and 40% from the field.

California began to exercise its power more in the second half as the Bears began to pull away from the Lions.  The lead soon turned into double digits, finally reaching 20 points (78-58) midway through the period.  However, the Lions would not lose much more ground from there despite being out-rebounded 57-19 in the game.  Cal also shot 57.9% from the field in the final 20 minutes of play, but the Lions countered by making 11-of-12 free throw attempts and took advantage of 23 Bear turnovers.  The hosts pressed the lead to 22 points before settling for the 101-81 exibition victory which does not count on either team's record.

Senior Diana Neves led Vanguard with 18 points, but junior Paige Halberg put on a show with 15 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists for the Lions.  Senior Jaclyn Blied added 15 points as Blied and Neves made four 3-pointers apiece.  Senior Rachel Copeland and Bridgette Reyes also reached double figures in scoring with 14 and 12 points, respectively, with each supplying three assists as well.

"Paige was one of the best players on the floor tonight," commented VU Head Coach Russ Davis.  "She played like a Pac-10 player and was amazing for us."

Finishing a challenging three-game road trip with exhibitions against No. 2-ranked Stanford and University of San Francisco prior tonight's exhibition against Cal, the Lions are certainly in need of some rest but will consider the Bay area voyage a success overall.

"Playing teams like this can only make us better and sharper," added Davis.  "Getting a win against a West Coast Conference Division I team (USF) was huge for us.  We're not where we need to be yet, but if we can continue to get better each game and get our team healthy, we have a chance to be really good."

Although the Lions return to Costa Mesa tonight, their preseason "November to Remember" schedule continues on Thursday at Arizona State University and on Monday at top-ranked and defending NCAA Champion University of Connecticut.  The five exhibitions against Division I powerehouses will all be played in a nine-day span between November 1st and 9th.

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