GOSHEN, Ind. – It's officially opening day of the 2022-23 season, and looking to start the year on the right note, Jessup headed east to Indiana for a date with Goshen College. The Warriors got off to a red-hot start, looking to get a big win in the first game of the year, but in the end, it will be the fourth-quarter performance that determined the outcome of this one.
 
Head coach Corey Laster spoke after the game, stating, "I was pleasantly happy with like six-eighths of the game we were playing. We're just really trying to work on discipline, and that's been our theme in practice the last few weeks because we've seen a tendency to struggle with that."

Friday got off to a picture-perfect start for the Warriors, as they shot 44 percent from the floor in the opening half, pairing it with a perfect showing at the free-throw line. Jessup had no issues finding the bottom of the basket as they took a 22-20 lead into the second quarter.
 
The Warriors kicked their scoring efforts into a new gear in the second, ending the period on an 8-2 run to take a 39-33 lead into halftime. Back-to-back baskets from Amari Guiton capped off the run.
 
Guiton had a strong performance in her 22 minutes off the bench. The sophomore forward scored eight points, pairing it with a game-high ten boards.
 
It continued to be all Warriors in the third as Jessup outscored the hosting Maple Leafs 16-10. A 12-3 run to start the period was sparked by a trio of baskets from newcomer Maddy Meadows, two of which came beyond the arc.
 
Leading 55-43, a win seemed to be in hand, but then came the final period.
 
Goshen implemented a full-court press to start the fourth, and it worked. The Warriors committed 11 fourth-quarter turnovers, which the Maple Leafs cashed in on to the tune of 17 points off turnovers in the period.
 
"If you look at it, I think we had nine turnovers at half," said Laster. "The majority of the 25 turnovers we finished with came in the fourth."

The Maple Leafs shot 75 percent from the floor in the fourth, setting up a 26-5 run by Goshen that gave their side the lead. Jessup had no answer for this late spark as Goshen held on to the final buzzer to take the contest 75-68.

Laster noted he was not surprised to see Goshen comeback, adding, "We kept talking about how they were going to make a run. They're a good enough team to make a run. They're a good enough team, kind of like us, that they were young last year and returned some good players. They made their run at the right time, and we lost a lot of composure."

Leading the opening day scoring was newcomer Makaila Napoleon, scoring 19 on 6-of-14 from the floor in her Jessup debut. Meadows would contribute ten points in 15 minutes off the bench.

"Obviously, those guys are juniors that are coming into today with some game experience," added Laster on Napoleon and Meadows. "Makaila has been really killing it for us in the preseason, probably the most consistent, so I'm not surprised that she had the game she had. She's a tough matchup and did a great job. We played her 38 minutes tonight."

 
The Warriors struggled to connect from 3-point range Friday, as Meadows' two triples in the third period would be the only two for Jessup (2-15, 13 percent).
 
Hoping to quickly forget about the loss, Jessup will be back on the court tomorrow for an early tip back here in California. Jessup will take on (RV) Saint Francis at 7 a.m. (PST) from Ruth Gunden Gymnasium in Indiana.  
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).