ELLENSBURG, Wash.—Vanguard’s first-ever NCAA postseason experience came to a close on Saturday night at Nicholson Arena with a loss to the No. 1 seed and host Central Washington Wildcats.

The Lions wrap up the season, which included Pacific West Conference regular season and tournament titles, with a 25-6 record. Central Washington moves on to Monday night’s title game against Cal Poly Pomona.

Vanguard had a very cool night shooting, as cold as the snow outside Nicholson. The Lions were 0-for-9 from three-point range in the first half, but still only trailed 41-38 at the break. They were also down three at the end of the first quarter, 20-17.

But despite a less than desirable shooting night, Vanguard never trailed by more than seven points in the first 20 minutes.

In the third quarter, the Wildcats pushed their margin to as high as eight points, but the Lions kept clawing back. At the end of the third period, it was 60-53 CWU and Vanguard was still looking for their first three-pointer.

They got it at the start of the fourth. Micaela Hanning drained a trey to start the period, and later Jaryn Madsen would hit back-to-back bombs to pull the Lions to within three points at 67-64 with 4:40 to go.

But Vanguard would get no closer. Forced to foul, Central took advantage by going 9-for-9 at the free throw line in the fourth quarter. The Wildcats were 20-for-22 for the game at the charity stripe.

Emma Schaaf led the Lions with 21 points and eight rebounds. Kaylee Byon added 17 points and five assists and Madsen finished with 14 points. VU shot 43 percent from the field and was 3-of-22 from trey land.

Asher Cai had 31 points for CWU and Capri Sims had 24. The Wildcats, now 25-6, will head to the regional final for the second time in program history.