By Beth Renkoski

11/03/09

Lions Hold on for Win over Dons at USF

San Francisco, Calif. - Coming off a punishing exhibitioin loss at Stanford last night, the visiting Vanguard Lions bounced back this evening with an 81-78 Exhibition victory over University of San Francisco.  Playing for the second day in a row, the Lions will continue the road trip tomorrow at Cal Berkeley.

The Lions led the entire first half, riding the fire-power of senior Rachel Copeland who led Vanguard with eight points and six rebounds in the first half.  Shooting 57.6% from the field and 54.5% from three-point land, the Lions pounced to a 52-31 lead by intermission.  The Dons managed only 36% shooting from the field and committed 14 turnovers in the first 20 minutes of play as they fell into a deep hole in their first exhibition of the season.

USF began chipping away at Vanguard's lead slowly but surely in the second half, shrinking the deficit to 15 points by the 13-minute mark and to single digits with seven minutes to play.  The Lions felt the hosts creeping up from behind and managed to keep them just out of reach.  The Dons came within one point, 79-78, with only 58 seconds on the game clock, but senior point guard Bridgette Reyes would hit a jumper on VU's last possession to give the Lions a little breathing room.  USF's last three-point attempt would not go in and the Lions held on for the 81-78 victory.

Paige Halberg tallied a team-high 19 points on 9-for-13 shooting from the field, while Reyes (15 pts), Copeland (14 pts, 8 rbs), and Sarah Boyd (10 pts, 5 assists), all scored in double figures for the Lions.  Vanguard was out-rebounded 44-32, but more than made up for it with a turnover advantage of 11-22 and shot a hefty 20-for-23 (87%) from the free throw line.

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