Kempton Makes Sure Vanguards Continue Their Dominance

Southern California College showed off some more reasons why it went unbeaten in 12 regular-season conference games as it fended off Azusa Pacific, 71-58, in the semifinals Golden State Athletic Conference women’s basketball tournament Friday at SCC.

Although its leading scorers struggled, Alana Kempton scored 20 points and the Vanguards bench produced to help hold off the Cougars during a second-half run. Now SCC will play for its first NAIA national championship tournament berth.

SCC (28-5) advanced to play Concordia in the conference final Wednesday at SCC. The winner of that game will earn the conference’s automatic berth for the NAIA tournament, March 18-24, in Jackson, Tenn.

“Twenty-eight wins is pretty sweet,” SCC Coach Russ Davis said. “It was pretty close tonight, but hey, that team was picked to win the conference at the beginning of the year. They’re talented.”

So is SCC.

Although Elaine Whittemore (12 points), SCC’s leading scorer and GSAC player of the year, was saddled with foul trouble and second-leading scorer Kristi Wright (three of 12 field goals) had an off-shooting night, the rest of the Vanguards picked it up.

Azusa Pacific pulled within, 51-47, when guard Pilar Surch (12 points), formerly of Pacifica High, made a three-pointer with 10 minutes 2 seconds remaining.

But SCC responded with a 13-3 run, with Kempton and reserve guard Amber Chaney (nine points) each scoring five points in the run.

Kempton’s three-pointer from the left wing made it 56-49 with 8:29 remaining, then Chaney drew a foul and made an acrobatic layup, completing a three-point play to extend SCC’s lead to 64-50, with 6 1/2 minutes remaining.

Azusa Pacific never got closer than 11 and SCC won its 15th consecutive game at home this season.

“Having this at home is huge,” Davis said. “And we’ve never been in a championship game before. It will be great.”

In the other semifinal:

Concordia 61, Fresno Pacific 47--Heather Carll had 27 points and 18 rebounds for visiting Concordia (24-8), which held Fresno Pacific (19-15) to 22% field-goal shooting.

Kristin Weddick added 12 points for Concordia, which led at halftime, 28-13. Fresno Pacific made five of 31 (16%) field-goal attempts in the first half.