SAN DIEGO, Calif. – The Warriors women's basketball squad (15-12, 6-8) took the floor in the lower half of the state Thursday, visiting San Diego Christian College (6-15, 1-12) where they held on to a close game to claim a 67-65 victory.
Jessup opened the game with two turnovers proving that it may have to be an uphill battle searching for a notch in the win column that night. After the first five minutes, San Diego was shooting 63% from the field and 67% from behind the long-distance arc rocketing to a 12-5 lead.
Jessup's senior Megan Scully (Newark, CA) calmed things down showing off the effectiveness her own long range shot and letting the crowd know that the Warriors would not go quietly into the night. Fellow senior Crystal Sewell (Ophir, CA) joined in the action with a layup, quickly followed by a pair of free throws keeping the game within three.
San Diego would still win the first quarter 22-17 but the Warriors were finding their game. Jessup's defense became much more active in the 2-3 zone and the Hawks were late reacting, lowering their average to just 18% from long distance in the 2nd half of play.
The long rebounds led to great transition opportunities for the Warriors and they took advantage. With four minutes remaining in the opening half Janelle Luu (Riverbank, CA) hit a three-pointer to bring the game back to even.
Jessup would outscore the Hawks 20-9 in the second quarter to grab a 37-31 lead going into halftime. The Hawk's coach must have instructed their players to move away from the 3-ball as they used dribble penetration through the second half much more effectively. An extremely hard fought third quarter ended with Jessup holding onto the lead 52-49.
The battle raged on into the fourth and final quarter but Jessup's defense started to look fatigued and the Hawks started making the long-range ball again. Still, the Warriors had been doing their homework all season and their defensive rotations, and movement away from the ball offensively were near flawless while they maintained their lead, albeit a small one.
With a minute and a half remaining in the game the score was tied 65-65 and the Warriors looked calm and collected. The ball went up the court and back but neither team converted.
The Warriors grabbed a key steal and brought the ball across half-court to call a timeout and allow head coach Emilie Blate to draw up a play. Sewell's number was called and she used a screen to take the ball straight to the basket for a two-point lead.
Jessup wasn't out of the woods yet with 20 seconds remaining on the clock. San Diego burned their own timeout but couldn't match Jessup's result leading to Diana Corona (Porterville, CA) bringing down her 12th and possibly most important rebound of the game.
Two quick fouls helped slow the clock but the Warriors never made it into the bonus and the clock expired on San Diego Christian, giving the Warriors the well earned 67-65 victory.
Sewell was in great form after sitting most of January with an injury, not to mention a good scare when she was forced to the leave the game injured just a week ago. She would finish with 19 points leading the Warriors offensively. Corona nabbed a great double-double converting on 12 points and 12 rebounds while J. Luu matched her 12 points.
William Jessup will remain on the road over the weekend, visiting Arizona Christian University on Saturday. Next Thursday the Warriors return home to face No. 2 Westmont College for senior night and the final regular season game of the 2015-2016 season.
The Warriors currently sit in fourth place in the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) and will be competing in the conference post-season tournament at Hope University starting March 4.
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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).
