WAYNE, N.J. – Junior guard Floriana Borova (Cresskill, N.J./Cresskill) scored 23 of her game-high 27 points during the first half as the William Paterson women's basketball team (6-3) breezed past visiting Kean (1-7), 73-46, Dec. 12 at the Rec Center.
The Pioneers blew the game open with a 22-6 first-half run, turning a 16-11 lead at the 14:43 mark into a 38-17 margin with 7:47 on the clock. WP was 9-for-17 (.529) from the floor during the burst, making all three attempts from beyond the arc, while the Cougars were 2-for-5 (.400) but turned it over nine times. Borova was 9-for-14 (.643) from the field in just 14 minutes of first-half action, adding five assists and three steals, to help William Paterson establish a 49-27 edge by the break.
WP's lead never dipped below 20 during the game's final 20 minutes, as the Pioneers once again held Kean to less than 35 percent shooting (9-26, .346 in second half; 20-58, .345 overall). William Paterson's reserves saw the majority of the court time during the second period, as nine of the 10 available players reached double figures in minutes played.
The reigning New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Player of the Week, Borova added eight rebounds, eight assists and four steals to her 27 tallies. Freshman Shakira Negron (Paterson, N.J./Immaculate Conception) posted her second career double-digit scoring total with 11 off the bench, while sophomore forward Ashley Marfo (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) had 10 points and six rebounds. Junior forward Dana Jeter (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) contributed eight points, four steals and a team-best 11 rebounds, and freshman guard Sara Luberto (Midland Park, N.J./Midland Park) led all players with five steals. WP enjoyed a 31-5 advantage in points off turnovers and an 18-5 steals edge, forcing 29 Cougar miscues while committing just 16.
Freshman Jatirah Diggs led Kean with 14 points, sophomore AnnaRose Pierre had 12 tallies and freshman Sharell Lowe pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds.
William Paterson will host Mount Saint Mary Saturday, Dec. 15, at 1:00 p.m.
For all of the latest information on the Pioneers, visit http://www.wpupioneers.com, http://www.facebook.com/wpupioneers, http://www.youtube.com/thewpupioneers and http://twitter.com/wpupioneers.