ROCKLIN, Calif. - Closing out their non-conference line up for the season, the William Jessup women's basketball team hosted UC Santa Cruz for their second match-up this season, and with Valentine's Day in the air, Warrior fans were loving the outcome!

Down by as much as six in the third quarter, the Warriors answered back with a 6-0 run to tie it up and led by as much as 10 through the fourth quarter for the victory over the Banana Slugs, 60-54.

Having played the Slugs a month ago, and falling in the final quarter, the Lady Warriors came out to play all four quarters strong with a team effort behind 6-of-8 scoring for Jessup tonight.

Through the first half, both teams seemed to answer to each other's baskets made as the Warriors left the first quarter with a 2-point advantage (12-10). Ending the second quarter teams held exchanged the lead multiple times resulting in a tie going into the break 23-23.

Halfway through the third quarter, Jessup fell back by the Slugs largest lead of six, but it wasn't long before the three-point machine, Sara Vasquez broke the silence with back-to-back threes to knot the game at 35 each with 3:30 left in the quarter.

With 30-seconds left the Warriors took back the lead on a 3-point play by the Luu sisters. Olivia Luu dished it to her sister, Janelle Luu in the paint for the made basket while drawing the foul and sinking the free-throw. But Janelle didn't stop there, with just a second left she drains the three-pointer from the top of the arc to go into the final quarter up 44-40.

The Warriors would continue their offense fire on the night shooting over 50% from the floor in the second half, going 3-5 from the arc and 6-7 from the line. Leading the force was junior point Olivia with 16 points, going 5-9 from the field, a perfect 2-2 from three-point range and 5 assists. She was accompanied by Vasquez with 13 points, Lily Hagerty and Janelle with 9 points and Emilee VanDyke with 8 points and 9 rebounds.

Leading by 10 with half a quarter to go, there was no time to let up as the Slugs chipped away at the Warrior lead, but unable to catch them as time expired and the Warrior improve to 9-13 overall. 

The Lady Warriors will hit the road for their final conference matchups at The Master's University on Thursday at 5:30 pm and Westmont College on Saturday for the late start at 7:30 pm.


 
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) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat).