WAYNE, N.J. – Freshman guard Brittany Harden (Millville, N.J./Sacred Heart) scored a career-best 20 points as the William Paterson women's basketball team (4-3, 2-2 NJAC) opened the second half with a 21-2 run en route to a 69-52 victory Dec. 5 against visiting Rutgers-Newark (4-2, 2-2 NJAC).

Trailing by two at 36-34 at halftime, the Pioneers scored the first 13 points of the second period to take control of the game, and led by as many as 20 late in the contest.  After allowing the Scarlet Raiders to shoot 51.9 (14-27) percent from the floor during the game's opening 20 minutes, the WP defense clamped down in the second half, forcing Rutgers-Newark into a 6-for-20 (.300) effort.  William Paterson scored 35 points off 30 Raider turnovers, and owned a 14-2 edge in second-chance points.

Harden was 9-for-14 (643) from the field for her 20 points, adding five rebounds, three assists and four steals.  Junior forward Dana Jeter (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) had 10 tallies and a game-best 12 rebounds, classmate Floriana Borova (Cresskill, N.J./Cresskill) posted 15 points, seven boards and six assists, and junior guard Kristine Jackiewicz (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) made all four of her field-goal attempts for 10 points.

Junior Jewell Palmer led Rutgers-Newark with 17 points and nine rebounds, freshman Laura Shakiri had 13 tallies and sophomore Jade Howard finished with 10 points.

William Paterson will play Saturday, Dec. 8, at Rowan at 5:00 p.m.

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