SANTA BARBARA, California. - In their first conference matchup of the season, the William Jessup women's basketball team led through three-quarters of play, but could not quite complete the upset in a 58-56 loss to No. 14 Westmont. 

After playing perhaps their best basketball of the season through the first three quarters, Jessup was outscored 13-8 in the final period. A split at the free throw line by Westmont's Lauren McCoy would end up being the game-winning bucket in a crushing defeat for William Jessup.

Right from the opening tip, it was apparent that a close finish might be in the works. 

Ashlyn Jones got the Warriors of Jessup on the board first with a drive and lay-in. The final minutes of the first quarter saw three ties and seven lead changes as both teams would trade baskets with Jessup taking a 17-16 lead into the second period.

The second quarter was much of the same, with Jones and Olivia Luu leading Jessup's offense by knocking down back-to-back-to-back jumpers. The defense from William Jessup was as impressive as their offense, holding Westmont to shoot just 32 percent from the floor in the first half. 

A post-move lay-up by Janelle Luu in the final minute sent Jessup into the locker room with a slim 35-33 lead at halftime.

The third period witnessed two more ties, but Jessup would never allow Westmont to pull ahead at any point. The offensive production of Miranda Zaragoza, Anisah Smith, and Jones helped Jessup fight off a pesky Westmont defense, combining to score 11 of the 13 Jessup points in the quarter.

Outscoring Westmont by exactly one point in each of the first three quarters, Jessup rode a 48-45 lead into the final 10 minutes.

Most of the fourth quarter was much the same as the start of the contest with Jessup growing their lead to as much as seven with 8:10 remaining. Westmont finally broke through with a 9-0 run in the ensuing five minutes and grabbed their first lead of the second half at 54-52. 

A fadeaway jumper at the elbow by O. Luu notched things up at 54-all with less than two minutes to go. After a pair of Westmont free throws, O. Luu would immediately respond with yet another clutch bucket to tie the game up at 56-56. 

Following a couple splits at the free throw line by Westmont to stretch their lead to 58-56, Jessup drew up an inbounds play on the baseline for Smith. With the final buzzer sounding, Smith's floater would come up just short and off the mark in what would have sent the game into overtime.

Jones led Jessup with 13 points and nine rebounds. O. Luu and Smith each tallied nine points with Smith adding three assists. Lily Hagerty pitched in seven points and five rebounds.

Jessup will continue conference play on Saturday in another road contest at 1 pm as they will face another Top-25 opponent in No. 15 Master's College.
 
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).