CENTER VALLEY, Pa.—The University of Scranton dug itself an early hole that it couldn't climb out of against William Paterson University in the opening round of the Starters Pub Tip-off Tournament at Billera Hall on the campus of DeSales University Saturday evening.
Only a late surge by the Lady Royals made the final score of 71-62 appear more respectable than it actually was. The Pioneers build up a 28-point lead in the first half, led by 24 at intermission, and maintained a comfortable double-digit lead throughout much of the second half.
With the win, William Paterson improves to 2-0 and will face Ursinus College, which upset DeSales, 39-37, in the other semifinal game in Sunday afternoon's championship game at 3:00 p.m. Scranton, now 1-1, will face DeSales at 1:00 p.m. in the third-place game.
Junior forward April Smith (Barnegat, N.J./Southern Regional) scored 23 of her game-high 25 points in the first half and junior guard BriAnna Lucas (Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham) added 14 points to lead the Pioneers, who shot 55 percent from the field to open up a 44-20 lead at intermission. The Lady Royals, on the other hand, shot only 21 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes of play.
Junior guard Megan Kopecki (Millington, N.J./Watchung Hills Regional) paced Scranton with 21 points and first-year guards Katie Cunningham (Garden City, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) and Alison Sweeney (Wall, N.J./Saint Rose) chipped in 11 and 10 points, respectively. Kopecki also finished with eight rebounds, three steals, two assists and two blocks in 33 minutes of action.
Following tomorrow afternoon's game against DeSales, the Lady Royals will return home to face King's College on Tuesday, November 23, at 7:00 p.m. in the Long Center.
News & Notes: The all-time series between Scranton and William Paterson is now tied at 2-2…tonight's win by the Pioneers was its first over the Lady Royals since an 84-64 victory on February 20, 1982, in Wayne, New Jersey…With 21 points tonight, Kopecki moved ahead of Deb Kryzwiec (1,312 points, 1977-1980) into ninth place on the Lady Royals' all-time scoring list with 1,322 points…William Paterson is coming off a 25-3 season in 2009-2010 and does not have one senior and only two juniors on its 14-player roster.
Newspaper Box Score
WILLIAM PATERSON 71, SCRANTON 62
WILLIAM PATERSON (2-0)
April Smith 9-20 5-6 25; BriAnna Lucas 5-10 3-5 14; Tatiana Javis 4-9 0-2 8; Floriana Borova 2-5 3-5 8; Lindsey Callander 1-3 3-4 6; Dana Jeter 2-3 1-2 5; Kristine Jackiewicz 1-2 1-2 3; Allyson Scerbo 1-3 0-0 2; Megan Russ 0-2 0-0 0; Brittany Ennis 0-1 0-0 0.
Totals 25-58 16-26 71.
SCRANTON (1-1)
Megan Kopecki 6-16 8-10 21; Katie Cunningham 4-6 0-0 11; Alison Sweeney 4-9 0-0 10; Sarah Gage 3-8 1-2 7; Jennifer King 1-8 2-2 4; Colleen McLane 1-4 1-2 3; Courtney Roselle 1-5 0-1 2; Shernai Bentley 0-1 2-4 2; Christina Hiltunen 1-2 0-0 2; Sidney Jaques 0-0 0-0 0; Katherine Torto 0-1 0-0 0; Tayler Pallotta 0-1 0-0 0; KC Hawkes 0-2 0-0 0.
Totals 21-63 14-21 62.
William Paterson University... 44 27 - 71
The University of Scranton.... 20 42 - 62
3-point goals--William Paterson University 5-15 (April Smith 2-5; Floriana Borova 1-3; BriAnna Lucas 1-4; Lindsey Callander 1-1; Megan Russ 0-1; Brittany Ennis 0-1), The University of Scranton 6-19 (Katie Cunningham 3-5; Alison Sweeney 2-4; Megan Kopecki 1-4; Christina Hiltunen 0-1; Jennifer King 0-5). Fouled out--William Paterson University-None, The University of Scranton-None. Rebounds--William Paterson University 41 (April Smith 10), The University of Scranton 44 (Sarah Gage 9). Assists--William Paterson University 14 (BriAnna Lucas 6), The University of Scranton 14 (Alison Sweeney 3). Total fouls--William Paterson University 16, The University of Scranton 19. Technical fouls--William Paterson University-None, The University of Scranton-None. A-1