WAYNE, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | No. 6/6 ranked William Paterson University demonstrated why the New Jersey Athletic Conference North Division regular season champions are a national championship contender this season, as the Pioneers outscored New Jersey City University 54-18 in the second half and cruised to a 94-38 victory in an NJAC women's basketball contest on Saturday afternoon at the WPU Rec Center.
On Senior Day in Wayne, the Pioneers, ranked sixth nationally in both the USA Today/ESPN Division III Top 25 Coaches' Poll and D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll, won their eighth straight and improved to 23-1 and 12-1 in the league. WPU won for the 20th consecutive meeting against NJCU (4-20, 0-12 NJAC) since the 2001-02 season and leads the all-time series, 52-9.
The Pioneers led 27-18 with 7:16 left in the first half before scoring 67 of the final 87 points of the game—mostly behind its bench which contributed nearly half the points on the day (45). Only two Pioneers played more than 21 minutes.
William Paterson outscored NJCU in the paint, 62-14 and owned a dominant 62-22 margin on the glass, including a 29-9 differential on the offensive boards, which the hosts converted into a 39-9 advantage in second chance points. WPU also turned 17 Gothic Knight turnovers into a 22-6 edge in points off giveaways.