ROCKLIN, Calif. – Looking to carry over the momentum from a dominant defensive performance two nights ago, the Warriors welcomed the top dogs of the GSAC to Horton Court Saturday afternoon. After a hot start to the first half, the visiting Hope International Royals came back in the second to steal the victory, 64-56.
 
Jessup jumped out to a hot start in this one, taking an early 9-4 lead after Monica Valenzuela connected on a three off a Bobbie Purify assist. The Warriors had taken the lead at 6-4, a lead they would not relinquish in the quarter.
 
After Hope climbed back within one, the Warriors embarked on a 9-0 run in the middle of the first period, giving them a double-digit advantage.
 
Hope came out to start the second quarter looking like an entirely different team, using a full-court press and lock-down defense to force the Warriors into seven second-quarter turnovers. The stringent defense allowed the Royals to even up the score at 18-18.
 
Jessup quickly found an answer to the press, finding open lanes in transition that set up an 8-2 run that had the Warriors leading by six once again. A layup from Maila Lepolo inside the half's final minutes had the Warriors leading by 11, but an HIU layup at the buzzer had the Jessup advantage at 33-24 entering the break.
 
The Royals came out of the break red hot, jumping out to a 12-2 run to take their first lead since early in the game. Jessup immediately answered as JoeLyn Stirton drained a triple to retake the lead. A Valenzuela three gave the Warriors another lead midway through the period, but that was the last advantage for the Warriors in this one.
 
HIU outscored Jessup 25-12 in the third quarter to take a 49-45 lead into the fourth.
 
The Warriors charged back to tie the game early in the fourth thanks to a layup from Kayla Vieira, but an 11-1 HIU run put the game out of reach for good. Jessup was forced to intentionally foul in each possession of the final minute before the final horn sounded.
 
Leading the scoring for Jessup was Cheyenne Jankulovski, who scored 13 on 6-of-11 from the field. Vieira was also in double-figures with 11. Valenzuela added nine points, with Stirton contributing eight.
 
The loss keeps Hope International perfect on the season as they move to 11-0 overall and 4-0 in the GSAC. Jessup drops to 5-8, 2-2 in conference play.
 
Jessup now gets needed time to rest and practice as they have a whole week until they next take the court. The Warriors will be in Atherton next Saturday to take on Menlo College.
   
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).