Hawks Hoops swept at Peterson Gym

By Nick Pellegrino
Updated: December 19, 2022

San Diego Christian College guard Greg Chew hitting a junoper before a sell-out crowd at Grand Canyon University earlier this season / GCU courtesy photo

2022-23 SAN DIEGO CHRISTIAN COLLEGE BASKETBALL

ECS staff report

COSTA MESA — San Diego Christian College basketball — both the men’s and women’s teams — returned to Golden State Athletic Conference action on Saturday (Dec. 17), both losing contests at Peterson Gymnasium

No, not the old facility at San Diego State University, which opened in May, 1961, and named for C.E. Peterson, who at various times during his 37-year Aztec career served as athletics director, football coach, track coach, basketball coach, Dean of Men and alumni executive secretary.

The Hawks played at another building with the identical name, located at Orange Coast College, located within walking distance from Vanguard University, Saturday’s opponent.

According to a Vagnuard press release, the Lions no longer have the venerable “Pit” for home contests for indoor sports, one of the smallest facilities in the nation at (maybe) a capacity of 1,000 spectators.

Erected in the 1970s, the Pit was demolished last spring to make way for the three-story, 60,000 sq. ft. Freed Center for Leadership and Service.

However, despite a loss of a traditional home-court advantage and owning losses to teams which San Diego Christian had defeated or lost by much closer margins that Vanguard, the Lions took both contests.

Men

Vanguard 86, San Diego Christian 68

Earlier this season, San Diego Christian defeated Saint Katherine, which then downed Vanguard. However, leaving hoper for the Hawks to gain a rare GSAC road victory.

mstead, Vanguard mounted a double-digit halftime lead to finally win by an 18-point margin.

The Hawks couldn’t guard Lions cenrter Garrett White, who took 21 shots en route to a 29 point outing.White also matched teammate Isaac Davis with four steals.

Vanguard (6-4 overall, 2-3 GSAC) shot 56 percfent from the floor.

For the Hawks, Greg Chew collected a game-best 27 points. Ausage Siamu added 17.

San Diego Christian (2-5, 15 GSAC) next plays a series of upper-division opponent to close the month. They travel to meet NCAA Division I squads CSU Fullerton on Monday, and Cal Poly on Thursday. The following week, the Hawks meet former GSAC rival Point Loma Nazarene, which is now an NCAA Division II program.

Women

Vanguard 77, San Diego Christian 50

Behind a career-high 23 points from Mexico national Estefania Giner, Vanguard used an 11-0 run to open the game, leading from start to finish to down San Diego Christian, 77-50.

The nation’s third-stingiest defensive unit, allowing just 47.8 points per contest, the 14th-ranked Lions (7-2 overall, 3-2 GSAC) clamped down on the Hawks especially in the first and fourth quarters to improve to 51-1 in the all-time series.

The Lions badgered the Hawks all afternoon and forced them into 26 turnovers, converting those into 28 points. VU had 13 steals, with at least one coming from six different players.

Lions senior Lauren Baumgartner scored 14 of her 16 points in the third period and made 4-of-6 from three-point land.

For the Hawks, Cynnadie Whatley led with 13 points, Jamee Joseph added 12, and Jamee Joseph had 7 before fouling out.

San Diego Christian fell to 3-9 and 1-5 in conference play. Up next are games with powerful Rocky Mountain College on Wednesday (Dec. 21) and Montana St,-Northern (the “Northern Lights:) on Thursday (Dec. 22) prior to Christmas break.