A game between two top-5 rated teams didn't quite live up to the billing Tuesday night. Vanguard, ranked No. 5 in the latest poll, easily defeated second-ranked PLNU 70-53 despite 26 points from Sea Lion senior Colleen Planeta.

Tuesday's game had its share of implications in the Golden State Athletic Conference standings. The loss dropped the Sea Lions (20-2, 11-2) into second place while Azusa Pacific, with an 10-1 conference mark, now sits alone in first. VUSC (10-2) is a close third. All three teams are separated by mere percentage points.

Vanguard and PLNU split their two meetings this season.The Sea Lions are the only GSAC squad to knock off APU and will face the Cougars up in Azusa on February 13.

The two teams traded leads over the opening 20 minutes Tuesday with Vanguard heading into the break with a 35-31 advantage. After trading buckets in the opening minutes of the second stanza the home team Lions started to pull away.

The Lions had a 10-point lead just three minutes into the second. Their lead grew lead to 15 90 seconds later and it was just about over from there, VUSC winning by 17 and snapping PLNU's 14 game win streak.

"Give Vanguard all the credit, they played at a very high level," said PLNU assistant coach Alan Nakamura. "The executed at both ends of the court and playing very hard."

Both squads shot under 40 percent, but the Lions made seven threes while PLNU was just 1-of-14 from beyond the arc. Vanguard dominated the boards 46-31.

Planeta was the only Sea Lion with double-figure points on a 11-for-16 shooting performance. The All-American fouled out at the 2:43 mark, however. Liah Ector added nine points and nine rebounds in the loss.

A trio of Lions scored at least 10 led by 22 points from Molly Pfohl. Sarah Boyd and Bridgette Reyes added 17 and 11 points respectively in the win. Phohl pulled in 12 rebounds.

The Sea Lions will try to get back on track this Saturday when they host Fresno Pacific at 2:30 pm.