Junior Amanda Franz bucketed 23 points to help the NAIA No. 4-ranked Sea Lions upset the No. 2 Vanguard University and NAIA top-scorer Rachel Copeland 80-70 in Golden Gymnasium Tuesday. The teams came into the game with matching undefeated records, but PLNU improved to 5-0, 1-0 in conference, whereas the Lions fell to 4-1, 0-1 in GSAC.

Franz was one of four Sea Lions to shoot double digits, as PLNU hit 50.9 percent of its shots. Vanguard shot 43.9 percent. The Sea Lions forced more turnovers with eight steals to VUSC's three and four blocks to Vanguard's zero, but the Lions managed to out-rebound the home team 47-30.

The teams shook off the holiday cobwebs with back-to-back missed shots after the tip-off before Franz set the tone for her team by sinking her first three-point attempt, a jumper from inside the three-point line and her second three-point attempt before the Lions could get on the board. The Sea Lions biggest lead in the half was 12 with fewer than eight minutes remaining.

The Lions nearly caught up, getting within one point of PLNU in the final five minutes of the first period, but Franz book-ended the half with a jumper in the last second to send Vanguard into the locker room trailing 47-37.

Diana Neves brought the Lions slightly closer early in the second half, opening with a jumper. But Franz answered with another three-pointer to build on the halftime lead.

The Sea Lions expanded the lead to as much as 15 with 8:36 to play, but the teams each hit 33 points in the half to end things with PLNU up 80-70.

PLNU's Colleen Planeta was a significant contributor with 17 points and nine rebounds, followed by Liah Ector with 15 points and PJ Hanson with 14. Brianna Colon was almost in double digits with nine points.

Bridgette Reyes led the Lions, matching Franz's 23 points and picking up 11 rebounds. Neves shot 19.

PLNU women's hoops head to Fresno Saturday to take on the Sunbirds at 2:30 p.m.

-Nathan Scharn