Lions

MEN'S BASKETBALL Vanguard 99, Pacific Union 64 COSTA MESA — Alex Chapman scored a game-high 25 ponits to lead the Lions in the nonconference game Thursday. The Lions (2-8) had six players in double figures, including Cameron Nettles (14 points), Drew Bruns (13), Ryan Andrews (13), Christopher Raybon (11) and Joshua Sandberg (10). Nettles led Vanguard with 12 rebounds. Pacific Union is 1-8.

WOMEN'S SOCCER Vanguard 8, Marymount 0 COSTA MESA — Senior Gabriela Valles scored two goals and assisted on another in the Lions' nonconference match Thursday. Lauren Skachenko added a goal and an assist for Vanguard, which improved to 7-0 after recording a season-high eight goals. Vanguard did not allow a shot on goal.

MEN'S WATER POLO Vanguard 8, Fordham 5 RIVERSIDE — Michael Cobarrubias scored three goals to pace the Lions in the nonconference game Thursday. David Buckalew, Joseph Sanders, Tim Sanders, Colt McKitrick and Jason Lee added goals for the winners (2-15). Christian Carillo made four saves for Vanguard.

Tony Altobelli Despite having no seniors, the Vanguard University women's basketball team still managed to reach the NAIA National Tournament and finish with a top-10 national ranking, capping the 1999-2000 men's and women's athletic year for the Lions. The Lions, using seven freshmen, three sophomores and three juniors, won the Golden State Athletic Conference regular season title and finished 28-7. Another national-tournament qualifier was the men's tennis team.

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL Vanguard def. Morningside SIOUX CITY, Iowa - Senior outside hitter Jamie Heenan led the Lions' 25-20, 25-19, 25-27, 25-23 victory over the Iowa-based school in the finale of Pool C play at the NAIA Tournament on Thursday. Heenan, a Newport Harbor High product, had 20 kills and 11 digs, both best on the team, to help the Lions earn their lone win in three pool matches. Senior KaUwila Lavea had 15 kills and senior Alexandra Leja added 27 assists for the Lions, who end their season at 22-14.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Biola 76, Vanguard 49 LA MIRADA — The No. 6-ranked Lions were upset by the No. 12-ranked Eagles in the Golden State Athletic Conference game Saturday at Biola. Vanguard (5-3, 3-1 in conference) shot just 27.1% from the field, including 16.1% from three-point range (five for 31). Allison Burns led the Lions with 13 points and five rebounds in 23 minutes off the bench. She made five of seven field-goal tries. The Vanguard starters were a combined seven for 31 from the field (22.3%)

The Vanguard University men's soccer team, ranked No. 5 in the NAIA, will forfeit its first six games of the 2010 season. The Lions absorb six losses instead, bringing its new overall record to 4-7. They were 8-1-1. The forfeits came as a result of an ejection during the last game of the 2009 season and soccer rule 12.12.1. The sport-specific rule states that any game in which a suspended player or coach participates in illegally shall be forfeited to the opposing team.

Lions stunned, 2-1 COSTA MESA — William Pellow scored to give Vanguard the lead in the fourth minute, but visiting La Sierra rallied to tie, then scored the game-winner in the 89th minute for a 2-1 nonconference victory in the men's soccer season opener for both on Wednesday. Sam Nichlson and Jack Plummer were each credited with an assist for No. 4-ranked Vanguard.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Azusa Pacific 57, Vanguard 54 AZUSA - Senior Paige Halberg had 11 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for the No. 9-ranked Lions in the Golden State Athletic Conference road game Friday. Vanguard (15-5, 9-3 in conference) led by seven with 11:46 left and led, 52-50, before No. 12-ranked APU (16-6, 9-3) tied the score at 52 all with 3:22 left, then took the lead for good with 2:41 remaining. The loss, Vanguard's second of the week, drops the Lions into a second-place tie with APU. Esther Timmermans had 15 points and six rebounds, while Allison Burns had 10 points and five rebounds for Vanguard, who lost the rebounding battle, 55-36.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Vanguard 71, San Diego Christian 64 COSTA MESA — Paige Halberg scored a game-high 23 points to go with seven rebounds and three assists for the Lions in the Golden State Athletic Conference game Tuesday. Veronica Beavor added 13 points, while Esther Timmermans (11 rebounds) and Taylor Belmont scored 10 points each for Vanguard (16-5, 10-3 in conference). San Diego Christian is 17-8, 6-7. * MEN'S BASKETBALL San Diego Christian 88, Vanguard 73 COSTA MESA — Christopher Raybon scored a game-high 24 points for the Lions in the Golden State Athletic Conference game Tuesday at The Pit. Cameron Nettles added 18 points and Christopher Kupets scored 14 points for Vanguard (13-11, 5-8 in conference)

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Azusa Pacific 57, Vanguard 54 AZUSA - Senior Paige Halberg had 11 points, eight assists and seven rebounds for the No. 9-ranked Lions in the Golden State Athletic Conference road game Friday. Vanguard (15-5, 9-3 in conference) led by seven with 11:46 left and led, 52-50, before No. 12-ranked APU (16-6, 9-3) tied the score at 52 all with 3:22 left, then took the lead for good with 2:41 remaining. The loss, Vanguard's second of the week, drops the Lions into a second-place tie with APU. Esther Timmermans had 15 points and six rebounds, while Allison Burns had 10 points and five rebounds for Vanguard, who lost the rebounding battle, 55-36.

Lions Park in Costa Mesa was the site of a lighting ceremony Thursday evening, where new eco-friendly lights illuminated the upgrades. Some $520,000 of Costa Mesa's redevelopment agency funds was used to provide Davis Field with new vinyl-coated perimeter fencing, 50-foot baseball netting and a new lighting system, according to a city news release. The lighting system for the West 18th Street facility will cut energy use by about 1.2 million kilowatt hours and 873 metric tons of carbon dioxide over a 25-year period.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Vanguard 43, Biola 38 COSTA MESA — Allison Burns had 10 points and 10 rebounds in 22 minutes off the bench to lead the host Lions in the Golden State Athletic Conference game Saturday. It was the seventh straight win for VU (15-3, 9-1 in conference), which posted a 47-34 rebounding advantage to overcome its 22-17 turnover deficit. Biola fell to 12-8, 4-6. * SOFTBALL Doubleheader COSTA MESA — Vanguard University swept a pair from nonconference visitor Cal Lutheran on Saturday, winning the opener, 3-2, with a walk-off run in the seventh and blanking the Lancers on a three-hitter in the second game.

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL Vanguard 104, Hope International 37 COSTA MESA — Paige Halberg scored 17 points to lead seven Lions in double figures in the Golden State Athletic Conference game Tuesday at the Pit. Esther Timmermans had 14 points and Chelsea Alfafara scored 13 points, while Allison Burns and Leigha Bednar added 12 points each for No. 10-ranked Vanguard (14-3, 8-1 in conference), which led, 56-16, at the half. Taylor Belmont had 11 points and 11 assists and Jordanna Smith had 10 points and 12 rebounds.

COSTA MESA - It's not swagger, exactly, but the Vanguard University women's basketball team may have its mojo back. The Lions, ranked No. 10 in the NAIA, handled visiting Concordia, 86-45, in a Golden State Athletic Conference game Tuesday to extend their winning streak to four. The 41-point bulge marked the biggest margin of victory this season for the Lions (12-3, 6-1 in conference), who last blew out an opponent in the 90-50 season-opening home triumph over La Verne. "This is the first game [since Nov. 19]

COSTA MESA — Students are still on break at Vanguard University, but the women's basketball team will be going to school in its remaining practices this week before Saturday's home clash against reigning NAIA champion Azusa Pacific Saturday night. Instruction offered by Lions Coach Russ Davis will include offense, defense and mind-set, after a 68-49 setback to highly regarded Westmont in a Golden State Athletic Conference game Tuesday at The Pit. Westmont (13-1, 3-0 in conference)

COSTA MESA — Vancouver Island Coach Tony Bryce had a two-word description for the arsenal of three-pointers imposed upon his team by host Vanguard in round-robin play at the four-team Bill Reynolds Classic on Friday. "Lights ouwt," Bryce said with his thick Canadian accent, after Vanguard's 104-67 triumph at The Pit. The Lions scored the first nine points of the game on three-pointers, made 10 for 13 from beyond the arc in the second half (76.9%) and finished 19 of 32 from distance for the game (59.4%)

FULLERTON - After watching his team roll the metaphorical boulder up the hill against scrappy Montana Tech on Wednesday, Vanguard University women's basketball coach Russ Davis ultimately was able to celebrate a milestone. The Lions, ranked No. 10 in the NAIA, played with all the rust that its 25-day holiday layoff had produced. Their wire-to-wire lead became tenuous in the closing seconds, but they held on for a 62-58 triumph in the opening round of pool play at the Biola Holiday Classic at Hope International University.

COSTA MESA - All second-year Vanguard University men's basketball coach Rhett Soliday wanted for Christmas was a little confidence. The Lions' 82-78 nonconference victory over visiting La Sierra on Friday helped solidify that request, though there was more sobering news on the injury front for a program that is still trying to gain more substantial footing in the competitive Golden State Athletic Conference. Vanguard (7-4) ended the game with a 16-4 run to turn away the Golden Eagles (0-10)