IRVINE, CA --- The streak had dated back to 2003, with Concordia dropping 17 consecutive contests to 10-time GSAC champion Vanguard, but that streak is alive no more, as the Eagles upset the NAIA's No. 12-ranked Vanguard, 71-57 at CU Arena Tuesday night.

Concordia snaps a three-game losing streak--all to ranked opponents--and improves to 10-6, including a 5-5 mark in Golden State Athletic Conference play. Vanguard gave the ball up 23 times and falls to 11-6, 7-5 GSAC.

"We felt that we had played really well against them the last time we saw them, and we really stressed to the seniors tonight that they had never beaten Vanguard and that this was their last chance in the regular season," third-year Concordia head coach Jenny Hansen said.

The seniors responded with a gutty effort, overcoming a 33 percent (25-for-70) effort from the field to secure the win.

To personify the effort, senior forward Karen Carney fought for 10 offensive rebounds--four more than Vanguard's team total--and she finished with game-highs of 22 points and 13 total rebounds.

"It's awesome," Carney said. "It's been a long time. I've been here five years and every year it's just been a constant battle. This definitely was a win for all the years I've been here, for all the seniors, for the program and for Paige (Armstrong-Maltos). It was awesome."

Carney, who was roommates with the late Armstrong-Maltos, tallied 16 points and six offensive rebounds in the first half as the Eagles built up a 34-24 lead heading to the locker room.

The Eagles scored 12 points off 14 first-half turnovers by the Lions, while committing just two giveaways in the first 20 minutes.

Vanguard cut the deficit to just two points, at 57-55, with just under five minutes left thanks to a 6-0 run, but senior guard Nicole Fu halted the run with a momentum-turning trey that was assisted by none other than Carney.

Fu's three-pointer made it a 60-55 contest, and it turned out to be the start of a 9-0 Concordia rally that, in effect, sealed the victory. Concordia held an 11-point lead with 1:49 to play, and allowed just one Vanguard field goal in the final 4:54.

After the game, Hansen, a two-year Concordia player from 1999-01 who joined the coaching staff upon graduating, was doused with a celebratory bucket of water, celebrating the end of the head-to-head losing streak.

"We had a former assistant coach from when I played come and talk to us (this week) about the history and the rivalry (with Vanguard)," Hansen said. "I think that really helped us out."

Fu ended the night with 18 points and four assists, while senior guard Patrice Hunter scored nine points and came up with a pair of steals in the win.

Sophomore forward Camesha Patton nabbed eight boards and scored four points in just 11 minutes.

The Eagles close out a string of five consecutive games against ranked opponents with a showdown at No. 7 Azusa Pacific this Friday (Jan. 28), starting at 5:30 p.m.