SANTA CLARITA, Calif. - After sweeping OUAZ at home last weekend, the Warriors traveled south to face The Master's Mustangs. It was a back-and-forth affair that saw both teams trade large runs, but a strong opening quarter by the Mustangs helped them down the Warriors 63-51.
 
JoeLyn Stirton began the game with a three, assisted by Juliette Caughey, then Miranda Zaragoza scored in the paint. The Warriors were locked in a 6-6 tie with the Mustangs, with 6:43 remaining in the opening period. From there, The Master's outscored Jessup 15-7 and led 21-13 by the quarter's end.
 
Coach Hernando Planells said about his team's start, "One adjustment we have to make is to be able to come out strong from the very beginning."
 
Although the first quarter deficit created a hill for the Warriors to climb throughout the game, they wouldn't go away despite falling behind by double-digits early in the second. Zaragoza converted an and-one layup to cut the lead to single-digits at the 7:41 mark in the second quarter. After the Mustangs increased the lead, Stirton connected on another three late in the period to bring Jessup within single-digits again. Still, late free-throws gave The Master's a 38-27 lead heading into halftime.
 
The Warriors came out of the locker room with noticeable energy as they pushed the tempo and converted easy fastbreak layups before the Mustang's zone defense could set up. After a Katie Campana three at the 7:54 mark, Jessup trailed by just four, 40-36. This was all part of a 9-2 run to get back into the game.
 
Coach Planells commented on why the Warriors were so effective to start the third quarter, "At halftime, we talked about attacking their zone, finding the open spots, and executing by playing our tempo and speed."
 
Despite this effort, The Master's responded with a run of their own, scoring nine consecutive points to regain a double-digit advantage with 4:34 remaining in the third. They ended the quarter ahead 55-43.
 
In the final frame, both teams played solid defense, holding each other to sub-thirty percent field goal shooting and eight points apiece.
 
Zaragoza led the Warriors with 20 points, while Stirton and Maila Lepolo each contributed eight.
 
The Warriors will look to bounce back tomorrow in game two against the Mustangs. Tip-off is scheduled for 12 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, and Snapchat).