BABSON PARK, Fla. (January 2, 2023) - The Webber International University women's basketball team kicked off 2023 with its final non-conference matchup of the season with a game against the University of Fort Lauderdale on Monday evening. The Warriors overcame a slow start, fueled by a career day from Jaida Burgess, to earn their third victory of the season, 81-64.

The Warriors (3-11 overall) shot 43.5 percent from the field and limited the Eagles (1-10) to shooting 35 percent and forced them into 23 turnovers. Good defense by Webber turned into valuable scoring opportunities as they capitalized with 21 points off turnovers.

It was a fast-paced opening to the game as both teams traded baskets. The Warriors found themselves behind, 11-10, after the first five minutes and the offense then became stagnant as Fort Lauderdale then went on a 7-2 run to end the quarter. The Eagles held an eight-point lead to start the second quarter and continued to increase that lead to as many as 13 with 5:50 left in the half. A mid-range jumper from Jamyah Harkins followed by a three-pointer from Burgess, kick-started a 16-2 run by the Warriors over the final five minutes. The run was capped by a three-point shot from Triniti Lee that regained the lead for Webber, 33-32.

The Eagles did not back down coming out of halftime as they came back to tie the game on two separate occasions in the third quarter. First at 35 and then again at 47 with four and a half minutes left in the quarter. Another run by the Warriors, this time 14-5, over the next four minutes saw them increase the lead to nine points heading into the final quarter of play. Webber held Fort Lauderdale to just 13.3 percent shooting in the fourth quarter while Burgess pushed the Warriors across the finish line, scoring 14 of the team's 20 total points.

Burgess recorded a career-high 31 points on 64.2 percent shooting from the field and knocking down three of her six attempted shots from deep. She also led the team in rebounds with nine, making her one shy of a double-double, and tied for the team-high in steals with three. The last time the Warriors had a 30-point scorer was almost four years to the day when Paris Copeland scored 31 against Florida Memorial on January 5, 2019. Burgess wasn't the only one setting career-bests as Samantha Pacheco tallied the first double-double of her career with 14 points and a game-high 10 assists.

They were followed by Rushell Jacob with 10 points and five rebounds and Dasia Wandick with eight points and five rebounds as well. Lee posted six points and three rebounds while contributing on the defensive end as well with three total blocks.

It will be Sun Conference action from here on out for the Warriors as they will now travel to the College of Coastal Georgia for a game against the Mariners on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Webber then returns home to host the Nighthawks of Thomas University on Saturday, January 7th at 2 p.m.