AZUSA, Calif. – Jessup Women's Basketball team (4-10, 2-6 PacWest) struggled to keep pace with a high-powered Azusa Pacific (10-4, 6-1 PacWest) offense on Saturday morning, falling to the Cougars at the Felix Event Center, 64-89. 

Facing one of the top teams in the PacWest, Azusa Pacific set the tone early, exploding for 30 points in the opening ten minutes. Despite the Warriors' efforts to trade baskets, the Cougars' efficient shooting and a dominant 30-point, 10-rebound double-double from Rachel Roderick proved to be the difference maker.

Sophomore guard Giselle Dogan once again spearheaded the Jessup offense. Dogan finished the afternoon with a team-high 16 points, shooting 5-of-13 from the floor and 5-of-6 from the charity stripe. She also contributed four rebounds and four assists in her 31 minutes of action.

The Warriors showed flashes of offensive efficiency, finishing the game shooting 44.9 percent from the field and a sharp 42.9 percent (6-of-14) from beyond the arc. Senior Andheya Aurelio logged 34 minutes in the starting lineup, helping direct the floor, while Mirella Boshell-Fernandes added four rebounds and a block off the bench.

However, the primary hurdle for the Warriors was ball security. Jessup committed 30 turnovers in the afternoon, which the Cougars capitalized on to maintain a double-digit lead for the majority of the contest. A difficult third quarter, in which Jessup was held to just eight points, allowed APU to pull away before the Warriors recovered with a 19-point fourth quarter.

On the glass, Jessup remained competitive, pulling down 33 rebounds compared to APU's 30, but the Cougars' ability to turn defense into offense via fast breaks kept the Warriors at a distance.

The Warriors will return home to the Warrior Arena next week to continue PacWest play. Jessup is scheduled to host Concordia University (CA) on Saturday, January 17, with tip-off set for 12:00 PM. Fans can purchase tickets or follow the live stats and broadcast at jessupathletics.com.