Lions Stay Strong and Claim Victory

Our preseason #3 ranked Vanguard Women’s Basketball team sunk a last second three-pointer to secure a win against the Montana Tech University Orediggers 59 to 58 tonight in the Pit and improve their record to 2 wins and 0 losses. A game dominated by foul calls and three point shots, Montana Tech gave the Lions a serious run for their money.

The Orediggers came out to a quick start, maintaining a steady lead throughout most of the first quarter. However, the Lions responded with a solid comeback to end the first quarter in the lead.

In the second quarter, Montana Tech unleashed a series of three pointers that caused the Lions defense some trouble, but the Lions ability to get to the rim and the free throw line proved to be a powerful asset with the Lions going into halftime trailing 28-25.

After the half, the Lions scored the first points, a three point play by senior guard Samantha Doucette. The Lions and Orediggers then traded buckets back and forth, but the Lions pulled ahead by two points to end the third quarter with a score of 42-40.

In the fourth and final quarter, the Lions continued to trade baskets with Montana Tech. With the score tied and the tension rising, Samantha Doucette was called for a questionable foul late in the fourth quarter, sending Montana Tech to the free throw line and putting the Orediggers up by one. After Vanguard missed a layup attempt with 10 seconds remaining, the Orediggers gained possession and the Lions had no choice but to foul and send Montana Tech to the free throw line. The Orediggers converted on one of their two attempts, after which Lions coach Russ Davis called a timeout. Coming out of the timeout the Lions inbounded the ball with 5.4 seconds remaining in the game, Doucette, who had not made a three-pointer in the game yet, put up a near uncontested three and hit nothing but net. The Lions would go up one and go on to win the game by a score of 59-58.

Coach Davis said after the game that the team’s win was a good start but there is more work to be done still.

The Pride’s next contest is on the road versus Bethesda University on November 23 at 7pm.