ROCKLIN, Calif. – The 15th annual Bill Holtz Warrior Classic got underway Thursday evening as the Warriors welcomed a newcomer to the game of college basketball, Lincoln University. Backed by a dominating first half, the Warriors put the game in cruise control for the final 20 minutes as they push to 2-0.
 
Jessup made their presence known early on in the paint, as freshman Makaila Glynn made an early living on the block with six early points. The Warriors shot 55-percent from the field in the opening ten minutes.
 
Head Coach Corey Laster spoke on Glynn's early performance, stating, "Makaila set the tone for us on the interior going after boards. We had great rebounding from our guard positions as well. We lost the rebounding battle in our last game, so that was something we focused on tonight. "
 
The opening quarter also saw the Warriors connect on 66.7-percent (4-for-six) from 3-point range, as JoeLyn Stirton accounted for three of the opening triples.
 
Stirton added her fourth triple of the night at the halftime buzzer, sending the Warriors into the locker room ahead 51-21.
 
A noticeable area that the Warriors controlled to start Thursday's contest was in the rebound game. Jessup brought down 28 rebounds to Lincoln's 18 in the opening half. The Warriors' presence on the offensive glass, 17 rebounds, nearly equaled the total for the Oaks.
 
The halftime break was not kind to the Warriors, as Jessup came out of the locker room ice-cold, connecting on just 20-percent of their third-quarter shots. Lincoln outscored Jessup 16-6 in the third.
 
On the third quarter, Laster said that "Lincoln picked up the pressure. I thought they played with great quickness. Their pressure got to us, and I just thought we panicked a lot. Our shot selection didn't help a lot. I thought we stopped playing and got too tentative."
 
Whatever issues fazing the Warriors in the third seemed to fix themselves into the fourth, as the Warriors brought their shooting percentage back up to 47-percent.
 
Making a statement in the stat column throughout Thursday's second half was Natalie Moulos. Moulos scored eight second-half points, finishing with 11, as she was one of three Warriors in double figures.
 
Joining Moulos and Stirton (14) was Glynn, who continued to dominate down low to the tune of ten points.
 
As the final horn sounded, Jessup pushed their record to 2-0 behind a 77-53 victory.
 
Laster spoke on the Warriors' ability to pick up wins early in the season but added that they still need more time together in practice. "Every situation is a learning experience for us. We probably have more game time than practice time right now. We need that to flip."
 
Leading in the rebound column Thursday were Moulos and Cheyenne Jankulovski, with seven each. Maila Lepolo dished out seven assists to lead the Warriors as well.
 
Jessup closed out the night with a 55-38 rebounding advantage. The Warriors' 55 rebounds are the fifth most in tournament history.
 
On the rebounding performance, Laster added, "I thought we were aggressive on the boards. I noticed it a lot in the first half. Of course, we had a huge size advantage, which made a difference. But even when you have a size advantage, you still have to be aggressive."
 
Thursday's game was historic for Jessup's opponent, as Lincoln University competed in the first official women's basketball game in program history. They continue their season on Horton Court tomorrow evening.
 
For the Warriors, the season moves on tomorrow afternoon as Jessup takes on the Oregon Tech Owls on day two of the Bill Holtz Warrior Classic. Game time is scheduled for 2 p.m.
   
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).