PHOENIX, Ariz. - Vanguard University (17-2, 8-2 GSAC), ranked number three in the NAIA National Top 25 Coaches' poll, took over sole possession of second place in the Golden State Athletics Conference standings with a 101-50 GSAC victory over Arizona Christian University (4-18, 0-10 GSAC), on Homecoming Saturday, February 9, in Fultz Memorial Gymnasium. Vanguard's leading scorer, guard Nicole Ballestero, scored a season-high 39 points, 23 in the first half, and made 4 three-pointers and 14 of her 23 shots. 

Coached by Jerry Conner, ACU plays 5:30 p.m. GSAC road games next week, meeting fourth- place San Diego Christian College (14-12, 6-4 GSAC) in El Cajon, Calif., Tuesday, Feb. 12, and number eight-ranked Westmont College (19-3, 10-0 GSAC), the GSAC's first-place team, Saturday, Feb. 16, in Santa Barbara, Calif. The ACU men's basketball team plays the 7:30 games of both GSAC doubleheaders next week. 

In Saturday's other GSAC women's basketball action, Westmont defeated Hope International (11-14, 3-7 GSAC), 73-64, in Fullerton, Calif., and number 10-ranked Master's College lost at home, 66-56, to Biola University (12-13, 3-7 GSAC) and dropped into third place. San Diego Christian crushed Concordia University (5-18, 3-7 GSAC) in the CU Arena in Irvine, 70-37. 

Vanguard gradually pulled away from ACU in the first half, reaching its first double-digit lead, 16-5 with 13:54 left and stretched the advantage to 23 points, 47-24, with 3:59 left before intermission. The Lions led 54-26 at halftime, and outscored ACU, 22-6, in the paint and turned 16 ACU turnovers into 19 points in the first 20 minutes. 

In the second half, Vanguard built its lead to 50 points, 94-44 with 4:28 left. The Lions outscored ACU, 14-6, in the paint and 12-0 in second-chance points from offensive rebounds and picked up 16 more points off turnovers. 

Besides her 39 points, Ballestero contributed six rebounds, four assists and two steals. Senior forward Maree Drennan, from Australia, finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds, one three- pointer, three assists and four steals, and senior center Esther Timmermans, also from Australia, scored eight points and gathered 16 rebounds, blocked three shots, passed two assists and stole the ball once. Off the Vanguard bench, center Leigha Bednar added 13 points, six rebounds and one blocked shot, and starting guard Chelsea Alfafara totaled 12 points, 2 three- pointers, three rebounds, four assists and two steals. Guard Alison Drennan, sister of Maree Drennan, scored eight points and had eight rebounds, two assists and two steals. 

Junior guard Jubilee Sutherland (Glennallen, Alaska/Glennallen H.S./Eastern Wyoming CC) led ACU in scoring with 12 points on 4 three-point field goals, and freshman forward Cheyenne Huskey (Glendale, Ariz./Mountain Ridge H.S.) came off the ACU bench and scored 10 points, making all eight of her free throws. Senior guard Paula Clendaniel (Tucson, Ariz./Cienega H.S./York College, Neb./Arizona Western CC) scored eight points, made 2 three-pointers, and had six rebounds, two assists, two blocked shots and two steals, and sophomore forward Sarah Beth Hock (Gilbert, Ariz./Perry H.S.), ACU's leading scorer and rebounder (13.0 ppg and 7.6 rpg) finished with eight points, four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Sophomore forward Stephanie Brimhall (Gilbert, Ariz./Perry H.S.) contributed four points, seven rebounds and two steals, and sophomore forward Jamie Heath (Phoenix, Ariz./Thunderbird H.S.) scored six points with 2 three-pointers and grabbed four rebounds.