ROCKLIN, Calif. – An inadvertent whistle stopped everyone's hearts Thursday night. As the Warriors advanced the ball up court, tied with 30 seconds remaining, the referee blew his whistle to signal a 10-second violation on Jessup, but he acted too soon.
Jessup was given the ball on the advanced side of the time line, setting up a potential game winning opportunity. Senior Diana Corona (Porterville, CA) converted, hitting a jumper in the closing seconds to send the Warriors home happy.
But how did we get here? With the William Jessup Warriors (12-4, 3-2 GSAC) playing host to Biola University (9-10, 2-3 GSAC) on Thursday night, it was a series of ups and downs for the Jessup squad that brought them to this 51-49 victory.
Thursday's opening quarter could be described best as simply a struggle to find the basket. On both ends of the court a lid appeared to be on the rim as neither team found success in the scoring category. Jessup struck quick on an early 3-pointer by freshman Olivia Luu (Riverside, CA), but only one basket would follow for Jessup as they ended the period trailing 14-5.
During the break, the key to unlock the lid on the basket must have been found, as Jessup came out surging on a 6-2 run. The run was primarily set up by offensive rebounding. After the Warriors would miss a shot, the offensive rebounds by players like seniors Corona and Megan Scully (Newark, CA) set up second chance points to trim away at the deficit.
That momentum kept going, as Jessup began hitting shot after shot, advancing on an 8-0 to trim the lead to one. 3-pointers from senior Oliva Nelson (Placerville, CA) and sophomore Rona Chavez (Clayton, CA) did the work offensively, and tight defense that forced both a 10-second and shot-clock violations shut down Biola offensively allowed the Warriors to battle back into the game.
Biola closed off the half on an 8-2 run of their own to take a 28-21 lead into the half time break. The Warriors shot just 29-percent from the field, while connecting on 30-percent (3-for-10) from three-point-range. Biola was held to a 37.5-percent showing from the field.
The Warriors did not get off to a sluggish start in the third quarter like that of the first; however, they did not see the rapid success much like they had late in the first half. The third quarter played much like a teeter-totter, with momentum bouncing back and forth between the two sides. Jessup would trim the lead to under five, and then Biola would go on a quick run to increase the lead to double digits.
Thankfully for the Jessup side, momentum finished in their favor in the third quarter. The Warriors got a much needed burst of energy when Chavez drained a 3-pointer, and then converted on a contested layup the following possession, sending Jessup into the fourth trailing 39-34.
That late momentum carried over into the fourth quarter for one of Jessup's trademark late game comebacks. Jessup started the period on a 9-2 run to pull ahead by two. Biola quickly countered the momentum to take a three-point lead into the final stretches, but the Warriors were not out of comebacks.
Calm and collective, Chavez drained her third 3-pointer of the night. This one could not have come at a better time, as it tied the game at 49-49 with under a minute remaining. An ensuing defensive stop gave the ball back to Jessup, setting up the final play and the win.
Chavez led the charge offensively for Jessup. Her 13-point performance led the team with Rodriguez finishing right behind her with 12. Corona finished with 10 points, including the two on the game winner, adding to her 9 rebound performance. For Biola, DeMoria White led all with 24 points.
Jessup continues the season on Saturday when they play host to another GSAC foe in that of San Diego Christian. Saturday will be an afternoon start, with tipoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m.***
William Jessup University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on William Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: William Jessup University Athletics (Facebook), @WJUSports (Twitter), and @JessupAthletics (Instagram, and Snapchat).
