Lions in quarters yet again

JACKSON, Tenn. — Potentially playing five games in six days at the NAIA Tournament appears to be not quite enough to satisfy the Vanguard University women’s basketball team.

The Lions, for the second straight day, worked overtime to advance at Oman Arena, topping Bethel College of Tennessee, 75-69.

The No. 3-ranked Lions (27-2) will face No. 10-ranked Lee of Tennessee (30-5) in the quarterfinals today at 2 p.m.

Senior Jaclyn Blied came up big for Vanguard Friday. With the Lions leading, 66-65, in overtime, Blied scored six straight points in a 43-second span to help the designated home team take control of the five-minute extra session.

Blied finished with 13 points and a team-best 11 rebounds in 33 minutes.

Senior All-American Bridgette Reyes had 14 points, eight rebounds and six assists for the Lions, who had five scorers in double figures.

Senior Rachel Copeland also had 14 points, while senior Diana Neves had 13 and junior Sarah Boyd added 11.

Boyd had five steals and three assists, the former helping Vanguard produce a 25-15 advantage on turnovers.

Vanguard, which has won 18 straight, finished 39.1% from the field (25 for 64) and was five of 15 from three-point range. The Lions made 20 of 26 free-throw attempts.

Tristian Johnson had 27 points, including seven three-pointers for No. 17-ranked Bethel, which missed nine of its 11 field-goal tries in overtime.

Bethel, which led, 31-21, at halftime, rallied from a 63-58 deficit with 43 seconds left, as Johnson nailed a three-pointer and, after a turnover, Kashundria Berry scored in the lane with three seconds left to force overtime.

Vanguard senior center Molly Pfohl fouled out for the second straight day. She had seven points and four rebounds in 21 minutes.

Bethel had 25 offensive rebounds and posted a 52-40 advantage on the boards.

It’s the ninth straight season Vanguard has made it to at least the quarterfinals. Vanguard was upset in the quarterfinals last season, ending a streak of three straight quarterfinal wins. The Lions, who won the program’s lone national championship in 2008, are 5-3 in their last eight quarterfinals appearances.

NAIA Tournament

Second round

Vanguard 75, Bethel 69 (OT)

Bethel – Johnson 27, Berry 14, Carter 14, Djokovic 10, Ortiz 4.

3-pt. goals – Johnson 7, Ortiz 1.

Fouled out – None.

Technicals – None.

VU – Pfohl 7, Copeland 14, Reyes 14, Blied 13, Boyd 11, Neves 13, Johnson 3.

3-pt. goals – Blied 2, Copeland 2, Boyd 1.

Fouled out – Pfohl.

Technicals – None.

Halftime – Bethel, 31-21.

Regulation – 63-63.