Box Score BILLINGS, Mon. - The William Jessup Warriors women's basketball team took the court for the first time in program history at the NAIA National Tournament in Billings, Mont. taking on the No. 2 seed, Wayland Baptist. The Warriors lost the Queens, 83-38 but marked a historical season finishing with the most wins in program history (20).
"I'm very proud of this group in the way we competed on the national stage," head coach
Kurt Westendorp commented on the Warriors first trip to nationals under his lead. "Wayland Baptist is a perennial title contender and they showed today why they're one of the favorites. We didn't have an answer for them on either end."
Jessup would fall behind early to the Queens in the first quarter scoring 11 points to their 19. But Wayland Baptist continued to find rhythm holding the Warriors to just 5 points in the second quarter for the 38-16 advantage at the break.
The Warriors would score a consistent 11 points in the final two quarters, but unable to stop the Queen's momentum, the Warriors would fall to WBU 83-38.
Leading the Warriors offensively was senior
Lily Hagerty with 12 points, following was
Miranda Zaragoza with 7 and
Liz Gehweiler with 5. Hagerty and Gehweiler also led the royal and red with 5 rebounds apiece.
This was the first national appearance for the Warriors since joining the NAIA and first at-large berth. Jessup finished the season 20-11, 11-7, the most wins in conference and overall in program history.
"This experience at the National Tournament is one these girls will remember for a lifetime," Westendorp said. "It has been very rewarding for our team and motivating to see what we need to do to make it here consistently."
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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) and @JessupAthletics (Twitter & Instagram).
