ROCKLIN, Calif. – Thursday was a homecoming for the Warriors, as Jessup kicked off the 16th annual Bill Holtz Warrior Classic Thursday night. Following two narrow losses in Indiana, Jessup finally found a way to win, lighting up the scoreboard in the second half in their 78-56 victory over Lincoln.
 
Head coach Corey Laster said after the game that his team is still learning how to win. "Three games in and, you know, I mean, it's good to get a win. We had the seniors last year, so the new kids have to figure out how to win and feel what it takes to close a team out. So just getting any win, like this one tonight, will probably help us."
 
Jessup saw production on both ends of the court. The Warriors shot 43 percent from the floor and outrebounded the visiting Oaklanders 55-43.
 
Three Warriors neared double-double nights, with Andrea Jovicevic getting hers with a 12-point, 12-rebound performance. Kayla Vieira (13 points, 9 rebounds) and Jennifer Pedretti (8 points, 8 rebounds) just missed their first double-doubles of the season.
 
"Defense is always where we're trying to start," added Laster. "There's some things defensively that we wanted to correct, but, you know, we have a lot of new girls that are adjusting, and they're still learning each other."
 
Jessup took a 37-29 lead into halftime. Out of the break, the Warriors hit a new gear, posting 28 points on 6-of-10 from distance.
 
Laster spoke on the halftime adjustments, adding, "We were in our man, and we were struggling keeping them out of the paint. The point guard was pretty quick, so she was controlling a lot of the action. I thought they were disciplined. They didn't have a lot of size, but they were disciplined in what they do. We knew our length was a factor, so we switched to zone, and that made a difference for us."
 
The Warriors finished the night connecting on 8-of-23 (35 percent) from three. Vieira led the squad with a trio of triples.
 
Now 1-2 on the season, the Warriors hope to spin this win into a streak as they continue the Bill Holtz Warrior Classic on Saturday against Bushnell.
 
"It's not going to be easy. We're still a work in progress," said Laster on carrying over the momentum. "I think this preseason is going to be very important for us. We're playing good competition all the way around."
 
Saturday's tip is slated for 11 a.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).