LEWISTON, Idaho – The Warriors are just 24 hours away from only their second all-time appearance in the NAIA Women's Basketball National Championship. After arriving in Lewiston Wednesday afternoon, Jessup will look to advance to the next round as they take on Lewis-Clark State College Friday evening.
 
THE BRACKET
 
Drawing a three-seed, the Warriors are in Lewiston, Idaho, as part of the Lewiston Bracket A in the NAIA Women's Basketball Opening Round. Other women's basketball programs in Lewiston are Carroll (Mont.), Montana Western, Benedictine-Mesa (Ariz.), and Westmont (Calif.).
 
The women's basketball action begins Friday at noon, with Montana Western taking on Benedictine-Mesa. The winner advances to play the champions of the GSAC West, Westmont College, Saturday at noon. The winner of Jessup's contest Friday evening advances to play Carroll, Saturday at 5 p.m.
 
THE VENUE
 
All games as part of the Lewiston Bracket will occur in the LCSC Activities Center, located on the campus of Lewis-Clark State College. The 3,500-seat venue will be limited to just 400 spectators. Traveling fans can purchase available single-game tickets for $10 per game on Friday, $15 per game on Saturday.
 
The trip to Lewiston is the second in program history for Jessup, but it will be the first appearance for WJU in the Activities Center. The home for LCSC basketball opened in January 2005, one month after Jessup took on LC State on December 10, 2004 (L, 46-90).
 
THE OPPONENT
 
Jessup will be taking on the champions of the Cascade Collegiate Conference, the Lewis-Clark State College Warriors. LC State ended the regular season with a 12-5 record, defeating The College of Idaho 97-66 on February 21 to capture their conference crown.
 
LC State is led by the Cascade Collegiate Conference Player of the Year Kiara Burlage (16.8 PPG, 6.9 RPG). A trio of players averaged double-figures this season for LC State, while the team averaged 69.8 PPG.
 
For LC State, this is the third NAIA National Championship appearance in the last five years. LCSC finished as the runner-up in 2017 and made an appearance in the quarterfinals in 2019.
 
THE WARRIORS
 
A three-seed in the Lewiston Bracket, Jessup is coming off a 10-8 regular season that saw the first GSAC Championship in program history. Finishing a perfect 5-0 at home in Warrior Arena, Jessup comes into Friday night's game riding a three-game win streak.
 
Leading the Warriors is three-time All-GSAC Team member Miranda Zaragoza, with 11.4 PPG and 8.8 RPG. Freshman Paige Winter is averaging 8.8 PPG over an average of 16.6 minutes, while another Freshman, Maila Lepolo, averages 7.2 PPG. As a team, WJU average 63.6 PPG.
 
This season marks the second appearance in the NAIA National Championship for Jessup Women's Basketball, with their other bid coming in 2019. First-year Head Coach Hernando Planells was named the GSAC's Co-Coach of the Year in response to Jessup's regular season.
 
HOW TO WATCH
 
All games this weekend will be streamed by Lewis-Clark State, and fans can tune in online HERE. To view all women's games in Lewiston Friday, fans can purchase a pass for $20. Streaming for Saturday's games will cost $30. Free live stats will be available HERE.
   
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 and Instagram).