WAYNE, N.J. – No. 5/6 William Paterson (15-0, 5-0 NJAC) held off a scrappy Rutgers-Newark (11-4, 2-2 NJAC) team, remaining unbeaten this season with a 59-54 women's basketball victory Jan. 11.
Senior all-American guard BriAnna Lucas (Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham) collected a game-best 21 points, while senior all-American forward April Smith (Barnegat, N.J./Southern Regional) posted her 11th double-double of the season with 16 tallies and 12 rebounds. Sophomore forward Dana Jeter (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) chipped in 12 points, six boards and five assists.
The Pioneers owned a 20-14 lead less than midway through the first half but could not shake the Scarlet Raiders, who finished the period with a late three-pointer by senior Lori Nieves to trail by just two, 28-26.
Sophomore guard Floriana Borova (Cresskill, N.J./Cresskill) opened the second half with a quick trey, and Jeter's layup made it a 33-26 cushion for WP 90 seconds into the period. Rutgers-Newark cut it to one (44-43, 11:13) thanks to Jasmine Daniels' jumper in the lane, but Smith answered with a layup (46-43, 8:34), and Borova drained a three-pointer (49-43, 7:49).
The Raiders made it a one-possession game with Jade Howard's putback, cutting it to three at 50-47 with 5:24 to play. Lucas came back with a jumper and a trey, giving WP some breathing room at 55-47 with 2:49 on the clock. After Kendra Johnson sank a pair of free throws (55-49, 2:29), Lucas did the same on the other end (57-49, 1:13). Johnson followed with a basket (57-51, 0:59), and when she again made it a three-point margin, this time with a three-pointer with 33 seconds left (57-54), Lucas was fouled and sank both for the final points of the game at the 0:16 mark.
Johnson finished with 14 points for Rutgers-Newark, and Nieves had 13. Daniels contributed eight tallies and 11 rebounds.
William Paterson will visit No. 23 Kean Saturday, Jan. 14, at 1:00 p.m.