Kelly Schmidt

Vanguard University's women's basketball team may have seen its season end on a sour note this week, but no one can contest that this has been a special season for the Lions. Led by 11-year veteran Coach Russ Davis and superstars like Kelly Schmidt and Jessica Richter, the No. 1-ranked Lions were able to string up 31 consecutive victories before being upset by Cumberland University in the semifinals of the NAIA Women's Basketball Tournament in Jackson, Tenn. The Lions are champions through and through — even if the final scoreboard doesn't say so — both on the court and in life, thanks to Davis and the way he runs his program.

JACKSON, Tenn. ? The tears of disappointment were still welling as Vanguard University junior Kelly Schmidt addressed what the Lions would take from Monday's surprising semifinal loss to Lubbock Christian at the NAIA Division I women's basketball championships. "It's a learning experience," said Schmidt, who ? like each of her teammates ? will return next season after a 31-2 campaign in which the Lions were ranked No. 1 throughout. "We're going to have to learn the hard way this year, but it will fuel us going into next year.

Vanguard University senior guard Bridgette Reyes has been named NAIA Co-Player of the Year in women’s basketball and Lions senior Rachel Copeland is a third-team All-American. Reyes, the Golden State Athletic Conference Player of the Year averaged 20 points and 6.2 assists, the latter ranking second in NAIA Division I. Her assist to turnover ratio also ranked second nationally and she was No. 5 in the NAIA scoring rankings. Reyes, who played three seasons at Vanguard after transferring from Boise State, led the Lions to a share of the GSAC regular-season title and the conference tournament crown.

Vanguard University senior Lauren Gregory, who guided the Lions to Golden State Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles and a 31-4 record, has been named first-team NAIA Division I All-American. Gregory, who helped Vanguard win the program’s first national championship in 2007-08, averaged 14.6 points and 6.3 rebounds this past season, which ended for the Lions in the quarterfinals of the NAIA Tournament in Jackson, Tenn. Gregory, a 6-foot-1 forward who played center all season, after 6-4 Therese Riedel was paralyzed in a preseason diving accident, carried a significant load as the team’s lone senior.

Freshman center Rachel Besse scored a game-high 21 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to lead the host Vanguard University women's basketball team to a 74-63 first-round victory over Concordia in the Golden State Athletic Conference Tournament Thursday night. Besse, an All-GSAC forward along with freshman Kelly Schmidt (15 points), notched her seventh double-double (double figures in points and rebounds) this season while point guard Lisa Faulkner, the GSAC Player of the Year, tallied 16 points and four assists for the top-seeded Lions (27-2)

JACKSON, Tenn. -- Vanguard University junior Kelly Schmidt has been named the Women's Basketball Coaches' Assn. NAIA Player of the Year for both Divisions I and II. Schmidt, a 6-toot forward who earned All-American honors her first two seasons and recently earned Golden State Athletic Conference Player of the Year laurels for a second straight season, was recognized at a banquet Tuesday, before the NAIA Division I Championships tipped off Wednesday....

Coach Russ Davis speaks the words so often, they have virtually become a mantra around the Vanguard University women's basketball program. "Kelly's Kelly," he typically says when initiating any discussion of senior Kelly Schmidt, a four-time All-American who is coming to the end of a remarkable career. When Schmidt, a 6-foot forward, weaves around and/or barrels through taller opponents to finish in the paint, Davis whispers to himself, "Kelly's Kelly." When Schmidt repeatedly drains clutch shots and free throws, or snags a key rebound to clinch yet another victory, Davis proclaims, "Kelly's Kelly."

Vanguard University junior Jessica Richter was named NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Player of the Year, and was one of four Lions' recognized as All-Americans. Richter was joined on the first team by senior Kelly Schmidt, who achieved the honor for the third time in her career. She was a second-team honoree as a freshman. Senior Rachel Besse was named to the third team and senior Lacey Burns received honorable mention for Vanguard, which advanced to the semifinals of the National Tournament and finished with a 31-1 record.

EUGENE, Ore. — Junior guard Jessica Richter scored 30 points to lead the Vanguard University women's basketball team to a 64-60 exhibition victory over the Univeristy of Oregon Monday night in front of 2,651 at McArthur Court. Richter made 10 of 19 field-goal attempts, including three of six from three-point range, and was seven of 12 from the free-throw line to propel the top-ranked team in NAIA Division I to a surprising win over the Pac-10 squad. Vanguard senior Kelly Schmidt added 19 points, including seven of seven from the foul line, to help the Lions prevail.

Vanguard University senior guard Bridgette Reyes has been named NAIA Co-Player of the Year in women’s basketball and Lions senior Rachel Copeland is a third-team All-American. Reyes, the Golden State Athletic Conference Player of the Year averaged 20 points and 6.2 assists, the latter ranking second in NAIA Division I. Her assist to turnover ratio also ranked second nationally and she was No. 5 in the NAIA scoring rankings. Reyes, who played three seasons at Vanguard after transferring from Boise State, led the Lions to a share of the GSAC regular-season title and the conference tournament crown.

Vanguard University senior Lauren Gregory, who guided the Lions to Golden State Athletic Conference regular-season and tournament titles and a 31-4 record, has been named first-team NAIA Division I All-American. Gregory, who helped Vanguard win the program’s first national championship in 2007-08, averaged 14.6 points and 6.3 rebounds this past season, which ended for the Lions in the quarterfinals of the NAIA Tournament in Jackson, Tenn. Gregory, a 6-foot-1 forward who played center all season, after 6-4 Therese Riedel was paralyzed in a preseason diving accident, carried a significant load as the team’s lone senior.

The celebration that honored the NAIA Division I champion Vanguard women’s basketball team Friday at the school’s gymnasium produced not only some great moments, but also plenty of news. Vanguard senior Brian Roberts, who completed a four-year career with the men’s basketball team last month, will join the staff of women’s coach Russ Davis as an assistant next season. Roberts, known more commonly as Boomer, will bring energy, enthusiasm and dedication, as well as plenty of basketball knowledge to the job. His outside shooting prowess — he had 155 career three-pointers and shot 41.9% from beyond the arc on his way to 690 career points — also makes him the odds-on favorite to win any games of H-O-R-S-E that might break out on the practice floor.

Vanguard University's women's basketball team blazed through another record-setting season, posting an eye-popping 31-1 record and reaching the Final Four at the National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics tournament. "This year will be the benchmark for future Lions teams as we strive on our journey for a national championship," said coach Russ Davis, who was named Golden State Athletic Conference Coach of the Year for the fifth time in his career. The Lions added a long list of accomplishments to their reputation as a West Coast powerhouse.

Vanguard University senior women's basketball standout Kelly Schmidt has been named the 2007 recipient of the Dr. LeRoy Walker Champions of Character Award, the NAIA announced Friday. The award, considered among the most prestigious in the NAIA, recognizes an NAIA student-athlete who excels in athletics and academics and is committed to the Champions of Character program's five core values of respect, responsibility, integrity, servant leadership and sportsmanship. It was created as part of the NAIA's association with Citizenship Through Sports Alliance.

Vanguard University's women's basketball team may have seen its season end on a sour note this week, but no one can contest that this has been a special season for the Lions. Led by 11-year veteran Coach Russ Davis and superstars like Kelly Schmidt and Jessica Richter, the No. 1-ranked Lions were able to string up 31 consecutive victories before being upset by Cumberland University in the semifinals of the NAIA Women's Basketball Tournament in Jackson, Tenn. The Lions are champions through and through — even if the final scoreboard doesn't say so — both on the court and in life, thanks to Davis and the way he runs his program.

Vanguard University junior Jessica Richter was named NAIA Division I Women's Basketball Player of the Year, and was one of four Lions' recognized as All-Americans. Richter was joined on the first team by senior Kelly Schmidt, who achieved the honor for the third time in her career. She was a second-team honoree as a freshman. Senior Rachel Besse was named to the third team and senior Lacey Burns received honorable mention for Vanguard, which advanced to the semifinals of the National Tournament and finished with a 31-1 record.

JACKSON, Tenn. — Cumberland players, as well as Coach Clint Mason, said the seeds to the Bulldogs' 68-64 upset of top-seeded Vanguard in the semifinals of the NAIA Tournament Monday at Oman Arena, might have taken root at the Final Four press conference on Sunday. Mason, senior forward C'Kala Humes and senior guard Ashley Cross represented the Bulldogs at the press conference. Mason said Humes and Cross took offense to what they deemed too much media focus on Vanguard (then 31-0)

Coach Russ Davis speaks the words so often, they have virtually become a mantra around the Vanguard University women's basketball program. "Kelly's Kelly," he typically says when initiating any discussion of senior Kelly Schmidt, a four-time All-American who is coming to the end of a remarkable career. When Schmidt, a 6-foot forward, weaves around and/or barrels through taller opponents to finish in the paint, Davis whispers to himself, "Kelly's Kelly." When Schmidt repeatedly drains clutch shots and free throws, or snags a key rebound to clinch yet another victory, Davis proclaims, "Kelly's Kelly."

JACKSON, Tenn. — Vanguard University junior Jessica Richter, the NAIA and Golden State Athletic Conference Player of the Year, added to her sparkling reputation with 32 points in the Lions' 82-56 quarterfinal victory over Trevecca Nazarene, in the NAIA Tournament at Oman Arena. She said a longer warmup time may have contributed to her making 11 of 18 field-goal attempts, including seven of 12 from three-point range against the Trojans. Playing the first of four quarterfinal games Saturday, Vanguard was allowed to begin shooting on the court 30 minutes prior to game time.