LANCASTER, Calif. – A new day and a new opportunity could not have come any quicker for the Warriors. After one of their worst shooting performances of the season, Jessup needed just one half to outscore their efforts from yesterday as they end their 2021 road schedule with a victory against the Antelope Valley Pioneers.
 
After the game, head coach Corey Laster said he liked the approach his team came into Saturday with, less than 24 hours off a bad loss.
 
"They just came back and stayed focused," said Laster. "They stayed consistent with a routine, and I didn't see really much drop-off or overhype. They just come out individuals were really committed to kind of shoot better, and that's what happens a lot of time."
 
The Warriors were finding the basket at an impressive clip to start Saturday's action, connecting on 64-percent from the field in the first quarter. It was a drastic improvement from the 1-for-14 start 24 hours ago, as Jessup took a six-point advantage into the second period.
 
Nothing slowed for Jessup in the second quarter, as the offense scored over 20 points for the second consecutive period, and the lead was pushed to double-digits. Defensively, Jessup held the Pioneers to just nine points, taking a 43-25 lead into the half.
 
A consistent presence in Jessup's offensive attack was their same leading scorer from yesterday, Monica Valenzuela. Valenzuela played as consistently as you can through one half, scoring six in each of the first two quarters.
 
Antelope Valley climbed back with their best quarter of the day to start the second half, outscoring the Warriors 22-15 in the frame. Helping the UAV efforts was an 8-0 run that ended the quarter, trimming Jessup's lead to 11.
 
Valenzuela continued her streak of six-point quarters, scoring another six in the third to give her 18.
 
Knowing momentum could quickly flip, the Warriors kicked it into a new gear with a 10-2 run that had Jessup leading by 18. Four different Warriors found the basket in this two-minute stretch.
 
Jessup's lead hit 20 for the first time as Cheyenne Jankulovski went 2-for-2 at the charity stripe with just over 1:30 to play. Around this point, Laster made a move to the bench, signaling an end for his starters as the final 90-seconds ran out of a 79-57 victory.
 
In a total turnaround effort from yesterday's performance against La Sierra, Jessup scored more than double the points put up on Saturday. The 79 points are also a new season-high.
 
Laster said confidence was pivotal in the turnaround performance. "I think they did a good job of moving on from yesterday's game like they knew what the difference was, and in some ways, we had more open looks yesterday than we did today. I just think it's just a difference of staying confident."
 
Valenzuela continued her scoring trend in the fourth, scoring another six points to give her a season-high 24 on 10-of-13 shooting. The fifth-year guard also led her team in rebounding with seven.
 
"She's just a consistent scorer," added Laster on Valenzuela. "She scored a variety of ways, and that's what we've been telling her. She's one that, you know, she comes off a bad game, and she stays pretty positive and stays pretty focused. I think she's determined, quiet determined."
 
Also in double-figures was Jankulovski, who scored ten. Others contributing in a vital way for the Warriors in the points column were Maila Lepolo (9), Bobbie Purify (8), JoeLyn Stirton (8), and Kayla Vieira (7).
 
Jessup shot 58-percent from the field in this one, an overnight improvement of 36-percent.
 
Saturday wraps up the road slate of games in 2021, as Jessup will not play another road contest until January 6. The next game on the calendar comes on New Year's Eve when the Warriors host Simpson.
   
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).