An important two-win week brings the William Jessup University women's basketball team into this week with a shot to play for second place in the California Pacific Conference.

Cal Maritime comes to town Thursday night with a one-game advantage over the Lady Warriors, giving WJU a chance to pull even with a home win.

The Lady Warriors were in Angwin last Thursday trying to get a road win in one of the harshest environments in the Cal Pac. The Warriors had won all of their previous matchups versus Pacific Union College, but Pacific Union won their first conference game in 47 months earlier this year at home.

In the first half, the Warriors and the Pioneers traded baskets with no team really gaining an upper hand. One extra 3-pointer in the half allowed William Jessup to take a 28-25 advantage into the break.

In the second half, the Warriors pulled away using 50 percent field goal shooting and making 6-of-7 free throws while holding the Pioneers to just under 36 percent field goal shooting. The Warriors used a 17-2 run halfway through the second half to cruise to a 68-52 victory.

Rachelle Russell led the Warriors with a double-double with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Lara Canders led the Pioneers with a game-high 26 points. Nicole Aboumrad and Cassie Davidson had 11 points for the Warriors in the win.

William Jessup and Simpson had the same conference record going into Saturday night's game. Enhancing Saturday night's game was positioning for the upcoming California Pacific Conference playoffs and the fact that Simpson had won the previous game between the two schools in Redding.

From the opening jump, the two teams traded baskets. Simpson took the lead 15-14 on a Kylie Shaw free throw with 10:34 left. From that point, the Warriors would not allow the RedHawks to get back into the game. Quickly the Warriors extended their lead to eight on a Cassie Davidson jumper and then to double digits on a Rachelle Russell three with 24 seconds left. Alyssa Foster made a two pointer with three seconds left to send the two teams into the locker room at 37-28.

In the second half, the Warriors had their lead in double digits for most of the half with the closest that Simpson got was a seven-point deficit on a Kylie Shaw free throw with 12:40 left.

The largest lead the Warriors had was 21 on an Aleta Stamps three with 5:41 left in the game. From there the Warriors cruised to the final horn and the 74-57 win.

For William Jessup, Stamps led the Warriors with a game-high 20 points. Elizabeth Thomas led the RedHawks with 10 points off the bench. Russell and Aboumrad each had 12 points and Davidson had 10 for the Warriors in the win. Shaw and Dominique Simmons had eight points for the RedHawks.

WJU's defense forced 21 RedHawks turnovers and the Warriors hit five more 3-pointers than the RedHawks (9-4).

"Our girls rallied together tonight," said head coach Guin Boggs. "With two girls out with the flu, everyone stepped up tonight. We played with great intensity and executed our game plan. We continue to get better."

The Thursday game against CSU Maritime at the Warrior Dome is set for 5:30 p.m.