ROCKLIN, Calif.— After nearly a month since their most recent home game, the William Jessup women's basketball team returned to Warrior Arena and had a valiant effort but came up short, losing to University of Antelope Valley 88-79.
 
Head coach Kurt Westendorp commented on the game saying, "I'm disappointed we didn't take advantage of this opportunity to get a key non-conference win, but I like the direction we're trending with our play."
 
These teams traded the lead a few times early on in the first quarter but the Pioneers began to pull away from the Warriors midway through the quarter after going on a 9-0 scoring run. At the end of the first period, Jessup trailed 27-14.  
 
In the second quarter, Aycee Willis had the hot hand scoring 12 points on 5-5 shooting in the frame. Despite the strong quarter from Willis, the Warriors were still trailing at the half time break, 45-31. Coach Westendorp noted, "UAV is one of the best teams in NAIA division two and they knocked down some tough shots every time we were closing the gap."
 
The Warriors were able to build off of each quarter as they increased their scoring output in each period. At the start of the second half, the Warriors picked up four points in succession but each time they started to go on a scoring run, the Pioneers were quick to answer. Even though the Warriors put up 20 points in the third, they trailed 67-51 entering the fourth quarter. 
 
In the final ten minutes, the Warriors had their highest-scoring quarter of the season posting 28 points but it wasn't quite enough as they lost the contest 88-79. 
 
Westendorp finished by saying, "I'm extremely proud of the way we fought back today after digging ourselves an early hole." Westendorp added, "We did not do a good job taking care of the basketball in the first quarter, and that put us in a position where we had to play catch-up the whole game."
 
Miranda Zaragoza led the Warriors notching her sixth double-double of the season as she posted 23 points and 18 rebounds. Zaragoza continues to etch her name in the record books as she now is now ninth on the all-time scoring list. 
 
Next up the Warriors will host former conference rival, the Simpson Red Hawks on December 17^th at 5:30 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.edufor more information on William Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: William Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat).