ROCKLIN, Calif. - In their annual Breast Cancer Awareness game, the William Jessup women's basketball team could not find an answer for a high-powered Menlo offense as they would fall 88-53.
 
Right from the get-go, the Oaks of Menlo came out firing on all cylinders on the offensive end, propelling themselves to an early 8-2 lead. Miranda Zaragoza would use her size for a lay-in and then netted a free throw on the ensuing possession to trim the early deficit.
 
Lily Hagerty provided the spark for the Warriors at the end of the first and early second quarter, scoring 11 straight points for the Jessup offense. The efforts of Hagerty trimmed the Menlo lead to just 21-18 midway through the second period.
 
While Hagerty provided the spark on offense, it was the Warriors defense that proved costly as they were unable to force contested shots on the Oaks' shooters. In the final seven minutes of the first half, the Oaks shot the ball at a 60 percent clip with many of those shots coming in the paint.
 
The hot shooting from Menlo sent them into the halftime break with a 38-25 lead.
 
The third quarter was much the same as the Warriors once again struggled to get hands up on Oaks shooters. After an Ashlyn Jones trimmed the lead to single-digits, the Oaks then went on an 8-2 run to put an end to the comeback attempt. The Lady Warriors mustered just two points in the final four minutes of the third quarter, allowing the Oaks to grow their lead to 63-41.
 
The Oaks would not take their foot off the gas pedal, incrementally growing their lead in almost every minute of the fourth quarter. Not only were they having their way in the paint, but the Oaks also knocked down a trio of three-pointers down the final stretch.
 
When the final buzzer sounded, it was too much Menlo offense as the Warriors would be handed their ninth loss in conference play.
 
Hagerty led the way for the Warriors with a career-high 22 points and six rebounds. Zaragoza added 10 points and three rebounds, while Jones added a respectable nine points and eight rebounds.
 
The Lady Warriors will host San Diego Christian next Thursday at 5:30pm with the regular season wrapping up next week. 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).