ROCKLIN, Calif. — The Warriors returned home after the Christmas break and earned a well-deserved milestone victory Friday afternoon, defeating the University of Hawai?i Hilo 60–52 at Warrior Arena to claim the program's first-ever PacWest Conference win.
With the victory, Jessup improves to 3–8 overall and 1–4 in PacWest play, marking a significant step forward for the program in conference competition.
Head coach Corey Laster shared positive feedback on his team's overall performance. "Good game for us after a few weeks off. We are trying to improve defensively, and I thought we gave a better effort toward that goal. Hopefully we can pick up some momentum. It was a strong group effort on both ends of the floor," Laster said.
The contest was tightly contested throughout, with neither team able to build a significant lead. Jessup took an early advantage behind strong first-quarter shooting and maintained composure down the stretch to close out the historic win.
Porter Wood led the Warriors with a game-high 16 points, adding six rebounds and two assists. Gisselle Dognan provided a major boost off the bench, scoring 15 points while knocking down four free throws and controlling the glass. Julio Arodja chipped in 12 points and four rebounds, giving Jessup balanced scoring throughout the lineup.
Jessup shot 39.6 percent from the field and was particularly effective at the free-throw line, converting 73.7 percent of its attempts. The Warriors also capitalized on opportunities inside, scoring 22 points in the paint and forcing key defensive stops in the fourth quarter.
Hawai?i Hilo was led by Keirstyn Agons, who finished with 15 points, while Nelle Sau-Godinet added 14 points. The Vulcans matched Jessup on the boards, with both teams recording 32 rebounds, but struggled to find consistency from three-point range, shooting 25.0 percent beyond the arc.
The game remained close entering the final period, but Jessup outscored Hilo 10–1 from the free-throw line in the fourth quarter, sealing the win and energizing the home crowd.
The Warriors will return to action at home Monday night for a matchup with the Hawai?i Hilo Sharks, scheduled for 5:30 p.m.
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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).
