LEWISTON, Idaho – Making their second appearance in the NAIA National Championship, Jessup hit the court in Lewiston Friday night for the NAIA Women's Basketball Opening Round. Trailing by just three at the break, Lewis-Clark State pulled away in the second to end Jessup's season, 73-44.
 
After the game, Head Coach Hernando Planells stated that this game was a great learning experience for those players returning next season. "They are learning how to win a championship. They're also learning what it's like to be at a high level and what we want to get to every year."
 
In polar opposite starts, LC State knocked down 5-of-6 from the field to start, as they charged out a 14-0 lead. Jessup missed on their first ten attempts from the field before finally getting on the board six minutes in from a trio of free throws from Maila Lepolo.
 
Lepolo's five first-quarter points helped push Jessup back into the game, as the Warriors ended the opening quarter on an 11-3 run, cutting LC State's lead to 17-11.
 
Planells was complimentary of Lepolo, stating, "Maila is a tremendously talented player who we've seen grow throughout the year. She's really developed from three-point shooting to driving and even her mid-range game. Her energy and her ability to hit shots in the paint was huge for us."
 
The first quarter run carried into the second, as Jessup continued to chip away at the deficit, cutting LC State's lead to two on a layup from Lepolo. At the break, Jessup trailed LC State by just three, 25-22.
 
Jessup put up 37 first-half shots, to 20 from LC State. While both teams made nine baskets in the opening 20-minutes, LC State's early advantage came off a 30-percent performance from distance, compared to just a 7.7-percent showing by Jessup.
 
LC State jumped out to another fast start in the third quarter, pulling away with an 18-2 run. Seven turnovers in the first seven minutes of the quarter had Jessup behind the eight ball, needing to climb back again just as they did in the first half.
 
Needing a sizeable comeback, trailing by 21 through three, the Warriors continued to struggle in finding the basket as WJU started the fourth 2-of-13 from the field. A 49-percent showing from the field by LC State was just too much to overcome as LC State advance in the tournament.
 
Planells spoke on the difficulty of slow starts to both halves, adding, "We just couldn't overcome it. When you play at the other team's home gym, and you just can't make shots, it hurt us."
 
With the win, LC State advance to take on the No. 1 seed in the Lewiston Bracket A, Carroll College (Mont.).
 
Lepolo paced the Warriors in the scoring column, finishing with 11 points. Senior Miranda Zaragoza ends her Jessup career with 10 points and five rebounds.
 
As a team, Jessup shot 26-percent from the field, just 3-of-21 from 3-point range. The Warriors did win the rebounding battle on the offensive end, with 15 to LC State's six.
 
The Warriors conclude the first season under Planells with a record of 10-9.
 
On his first year with Jessup, Planells reflected and said this was "the best coaching year of my life. The players are a part of me for the rest of my life. My coaching staff was amazing. To get through COVID, a season, to win a championship, and for our players to work hard every day really was the best experience of my life."
 
After capturing the first conference title in program history, Jessup's season comes to an end in the Opening Round of the NAIA National Championship.
   
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).