West Palm Beach, FL – The Webber International Women's Basketball team opened SUN Conference play against the Keiser Seahawks on Saturday afternoon. The Warriors hung tough with their foes, but were unable to contain the Seahawks' attack, falling 98-79.
The first quarter was uneventful for the Warriors, as Keiser took an early lead before Alisha Walker got the Warriors on the board. Janaina Goncalves hit a quick three off of a feed from Samantha Pacheco to keep the cut the Seahawks lead, 15-5. Jaida Burgess hit a three and then was sent to the line and made two more for the Warriors. Burgess would get two more points on a jumper before Triniti Lee hit a shot as well, bringing the score to 27-14. Lee made another layup to end the quarter 30-16.
Burgess scored the first two baskets in the second half for the Warriors. Her points were the only ones scored for the Warriors until Jaiden Ross hit a basket to bring the score to 45-22 off an assist from Burgess. Burgess would get one more basket to fall off an assist from Jermaisa Klopsis to head into halftime with the score 47-24 in favor of Keiser.
Burgess picked up where she left off, starting the second half with another made basket. Lee went on a seven-point scoring run of her own, making a jumper, a three-pointer, and another jumper, to bring the score to 49-33. Pachecho hit a jumper, before assisting Walker on her next basket. Klopsis hit a three-pointer off an assist from Goncalves. Goncalves returned the favor on her next shot, while Pacheco hit a three-pointer with her defender's hand in her face to make the score 60-45. Burgess was fouled on her way to the basket, sinking both the shot and the ensuing free throw. The Warriors' defense stepped up, as Burgess went for a steal and was fouled, sinking one of two from the line. Jasmine Henry fought for a rebound off of a miss from Pacheco and was sent to the line making both shots. Pacheco hit one more shot towards the end of the quarter putting the score at 68-53.
Kori Wimberly was the first to score for the Warriors in the fourth quarter, making a basket off an assist from Goncalves. Burgess scored the next three for the Warriors, on a free throw and a made shot. Pacheco scored seven of the next nine points for Webber, making two jump shots and draining a three- pointer. Wimberly went one of two from the charity stripe, and Burgess made another shot and a free throw from a foul to bring the score to 96-76. One more three from Pachecho would end the scoring for the Warriors 98-79.
Burgess netted her second straight 30+ point game, scoring 31 points, as well as three rebounds and three assists. Pachecho had 18 points and five assists, while Lee added 11 points and four rebounds.
The Warriors will be back in action on Wednesday. January 10th when they host College of Coastal Georgia in the Sabbagh Center at 5:30 PM.
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