box score

COSTA MESA, Calif. – NAIA tenth-ranked Vanguard defeated Point Loma Nazarene 71-52 in the opener of Golden State Athletic Conference play Tuesday. The loss drops the Sea Lions to 6-3 overall, 0-1 GSAC while the Lions improved to 5-1, 1-0.

PLNU shot just 38 percent in the game and were good on only 5-of-21 three pointers. Additionally, Vanguard dominated the boards, outrebounding the Sea Lions 46-24. The home-team bench outscored the Green and Gold 35-10 as well.

The lead changed three times early in the first half but the Lions would have a double-digit lead with eight minutes to go and head into the break up 33-20.

Point Loma went down as much as 18 points in the second before closing the gap to 14 with 2:24 to play. But Vanguard outscored the Sea Lions down the stretch 9-4 to win by 19.

Nyla Bailey did most of the damage for PLNU, posting 24 points and five rebounds. No other Sea Lions hit double-figures.

A trio of Lions scored at least ten points led by 13 from Esther Timmermans.

The Sea Lions return home and will host Westmont this Saturday starting at 5:30 pm.