ROCKLIN, Calif. – The Warriors squad secured a thrilling 65-63 victory over Bushnell University on Thursday night in the opening night of the 2025 Bill Holtz Classic at Warrior Arena. The dramatic win not only improved the Warriors' season record but also marked a historic night for Head Coach Corey Laster, who officially became the program's all-time wins leader.
The contest was a defensive battle and a back-and-forth affair from the opening tip, featuring nine ties and eight lead changes. Jessup narrowly led after the first quarter, 10-9, before extending their lead to 28-22 at the half. Bushnell responded strongly in the third, posting a 21-16 quarter to cut the Warrior lead to just one point heading into the final frame, 44-43.
The fourth quarter was a showcase of clutch offense, with both teams trading blows. Jessup tallied 21 points in the final quarter to Bushnell's 20, holding on for the two-point victory, 65-63. The Warriors found success inside, finishing with 38 points in the paint.
Freshman Porter Wood led the charge for the Warriors, delivering a dominant performance with a game-high 23 points on 8-of-16 shooting and going 6-of-9 from the free-throw line. Wood also anchored the glass, pulling down a team-leading 8 rebounds.
Jessup saw strong contributions from the guard position, where Amari Guiton added 10 points on an efficient 5-of-8 shooting from the field. Giselle Dogan chipped in 10 points, mostly from the free-throw line, where she was 6-of-7. Claudia Jimenez was the primary distributor, dishing out a team-best 5 assists.
The hard-fought win holds extra significance as it secures Head Coach Corey Laster as the all-time wins leader for the Jessup Women's Basketball program. Laster, who was previously tied for the most wins, now stands alone at the top of the program's history.
"Its difficult to win any games at this level. I was happy for this group in particular to get their first win. To pull through in a close game will go a long way toward helping them building confidence down the line. It was a great team win," commented Head Coach Laster.
The Warriors will return to action on Saturday at 2:30 PM to take on Stanislaus State to finish out the 2025 Bill Holtz Classic.
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Jessup University is a 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).
