COSTA MESA, Calif. - Simpson women's basketball dropped the opening contest of the back-to-back with 10th ranked Vanguard University, 77-55.
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The Red Hawks' first quarter woes hurt them as they trailed by 17 points heading into the second quarter, but they matched the Lions the remainder of the game.
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"Overall, we can't get down double digits in the first quarter," Head Coach Derrick Pringle Jr. says, "especially against a team of that caliber."
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Simpson did counter in the second quarter outscoring the talented Vanguard club by three. Freshman, Nikki Thompson led the charge offensively for the Red Hawks finishing with 16 points on just 6-8 from the field and six rebounds.
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"We ran up against a really good Vanguard team tonight, Pringle adds, "we had spurts where we looked good offensively and got in a nice groove. I felt Sandra Berrocal and Nikki Thompson played well for us."
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Brianna Clark was the other Red Hawk in double figures finishing with 12 points while connecting on a pair of three-pointers.
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The Lions were backed by the impressive scoring outing by Airiana Madanski and Gabriela Rosas who combined for 47 points. Michaella Elad was also a monster on the glass for VU tonight finishing with the game's only double-double finishing with 18 rebounds and 11 points.
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For 30 minutes, Simpson went toe-to-toe with one of the best teams in the NAIA and will look to split the two-game series when they face Vanguard again tomorrow night with tip-off set for 4 PM.
