ROCKLIN, Calif. – An annual staple on the Jessup Athletics calendar, the Bill Holtz Warrior Classic kicked off on Friday with a first-time meeting against Alaska Fairbanks. In Jessup's first official contest of the season, the Warriors came out on the losing end of a 69-57 battle.
"I thought we competed hard, which I wanted to see," said head coach
Corey Laster after the game. "We made some adjustments in practice today, but we're still playing without a key starter that started last year for us. I thought our energy was good, and we competed hard, which I wanted to see."
The Warriors were paced by 17 points from guard
Andrea Jovicevic. Jovicevic connected on 6-of-11 from the field, three of which came from beyond the arc. She also pulled down five boards.
Kayla Vieira finished behind her with ten points as the only two Warriors to score double-digits.
Jovicevic also led the Warriors in scoring in Monday's exhibition at Sacramento State.
"I'm hoping a lot of players can help us tomorrow," added Laster on the Warriors' offense. "Everything starts for us with Andrea. For her, the big thing is maintaining her composure on the floor. She's a competitor, but we need her to be good tomorrow. But we need that next person in line."
Anchorage was sparked by a big third quarter, a 24-point performance in which they shot 47 percent from the floor. Jessup trailed by five entering the halftime intermission, but entering the fourth, the lead was now at 13.
Elaina Mack led the way with 18 points on 7-of-17 from the field. Jaisa Gamble and Jazzpher Evans also contributed with 14.
The Warriors featured a heavy rotation on Friday, as 14 players saw game time. Laster noted that with a large roster, there will be learning curves early in the season.
"When you put people in new roles, they have to figure out what college basketball is all about," added Laster. "We have some freshmen, it's a big team, but we have a good amount that don't have any game experience. Every game is a learning curve."
The Holtz Classic will continue on Saturday when the Warriors return to the floor against Alaska Fairbanks. Fairbanks opened up the day with a victory against Cal Poly Humboldt. Saturday's battle is scheduled for 2 p.m.
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Jessup University is a provisional member of the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division II and the PacWest Conference. For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: Jessup University Athletics (Facebook) and @JessupAthletics (Instagram & X).
