Junior forward April Smith had 25 points and 21 rebounds, and was named the Most Valuable Player of the 10th Annual Starters Moravian Winter Classic as William Paterson University held off a rally by host Moravian College to earn a 71-63 win in the championship game Monday afternoon in Johnston Hall.

The Pioneers led 33-19 with 6:31 to go in the first half only to see Moravian pull within two points, 40-38, at halftime, and the Greyhounds would briefly retake the lead at 50-49 with 14:07 to play in the contest before William Paterson ran off eight straight points to take control of the contest.

Moravian opened the scoring on a three-pointer from junior guard Hilary Murray on the Greyhounds first possession, and Moravian led 5-1 at 18:02 after a jumper from junior forward Alexandra Blair. The Pioneers scored six straight points to take a 7-5 lead on a lay-up from April Smith at 16:59 before Murray gave Moravian the lead back at 10-9 with another three-pointer.

Freshman forward Dana Jeter put William Paterson back in front with a lay-up at 14:52, and a three-pointer by April Smith gave the Pioneers a 21-12 lead advantage with 12:34 remaining in the first half. April Smith hit a lay-up six minutes later to push William Paterson's lead to 14 points, 33-19, but the Greyhounds finished the half with a 19-7 run to head to the locker room trailing just 40-38 after two free throws by Moravian senior forward Emily Smith with 25 seconds left in the half.

Moravian shot the ball well in the opening 20 minutes to come back, making 13-of-28 field goal attempts (46.4 percent), four-of-seven three-pointers and eight-of-11 free throws. William Paterson was 16-for-49 from the floor (32.7 percent), three-for-nine on three-pointers and five-for-ten at the foul line in the first half. The Pioneers had a 30-22 advantage in rebounds in the opening half, and they had just four turnovers while forcing Moravian into 12 turnovers.

Blair hit a free throw to open the second half to get Moravian within a point, but four quick points including a lay-up from freshman forward Jewell Palmer put the Pioneers ahead, 44-39. The Greyhounds tied the game at 46-46 on a three-pointer by Murray with 15:17 to go before freshman forward Laura Jordan put Moravian up 50-49 with a jumper at the 14:07 mark.

Sophomore forward Tatiana Javis gave William Paterson the lead right back on a jumper 18 seconds later, and the Pioneers would lead the rest of the way. Moravian closed within two points, 57-55, on a lay-up from Emily Smith before William Paterson pulled away.

The Greyhounds struggled to shoot the ball in the second half, making just nine-of-31 field goal attempts (29 percent), two-of-13 three-pointers and five-of-eight free throws after the intermission. Moravian also had 22 total turnovers while William Paterson had a 59-43 advantage in rebounds including a 30-13 edge in offensive rebounds. The Pioneers were 14-for-37 from the floor (37.8 percent) and three-for-seven at the foul line in the final 20 minutes while missing all five of their three-point attempts.

Moravian had four players in double figures led by Murray, who tossed in 14 points with four rebounds and three assists. Blair and Emily Smith each had 13 points, and they were both on the All-Tournament Team with Blair adding 12 rebounds and five blocked shots and Smith contributing five assists and three boards. Senior forward Amy Heffner had 11 points, six rebounds and three assists for the Greyhounds while Jordan finished with seven rebounds, five points and a pair of blocked shots. Freshman guard Katie O'Rourke had four rebounds, five assists and two points for Moravian while freshman guard Alyssa Hann added three points.

April Smith had two blocked shots to go with her 25 points and 21 rebounds, 11 on the offensive glass, while junior guard BriAnna Lucas earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team with 20 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals. Jeter contributed eight points, nine rebounds and two blocked shots for the Pioneers while Javis had seven points and five rebounds. Palmer contributed six points and eight rebounds for William Paterson.

Sophomore guard Celia Rader from King's College and senior center Mindy Sharp of Frostburg State University rounded out the All-Tournament Team as King's defeated Frostburg State, 66-52, in the consolation game.