GRANTHAM, PA. – Junior guard Kristine Jackiewicz (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) scored a career-high 21 points and classmate Dana Jeter (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) had her eighth double-double of the season with 16 points and 11 rebounds as William Paterson (21-7) defeated Gettysburg (21-7), 71-64, in the first round of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament March 1 in Grantham, Pa.

The Pioneers advance to the second round and will face the Messiah/Lebanon Bible winner Saturday, March 2, at 6:00 p.m. in Grantham.

WP four times clawed its way out to a five-point lead during the first 11 minutes of the second half, but could not put together a large-enough run to put Gettysburg away, as each time the Bullets came up with a basket to keep it to no more than a two-possession game.  Ahead by a 46-43 count at the 8:14 mark, junior Brittany Ennis (Lambertville, N.J./South Hunterdon Regional) hit a layup (48-43, 7:36), and after a Gettysburg miss, first-team all-New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) junior guard Floriana Borova (Cresskill, N.J./Cresskill) rebounded and was fouled, draining both free throws for a 50-43 edge with 7:14 remaining.

The two teams traded three-pointers before the Bullets reeled off five straight points, cutting the William Paterson advantage to 53-51 with 4:31 on the clock, but Jackiewicz hit from beyond the arc on the Pioneers' next possession (56-51, 4:18). Each team visited the charity stripe before Gettysburg's Rianna Doane made her only three-pointer of the night, pulling the Bullets to within three at 58-55 with 3:13 left.

Jeter came up big for WP, receiving a pass from sophomore forward Ashley Marfo (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) and sinking a jumper from the left elbow, then stealing the ball on the ensuing possession and turning it into a fast-break layup.  Those four quick points handed William Paterson a 62-55 lead with 2:31 remaining and seemingly took some of the wind out of Gettysburg's sails.  The Bullets turned it over twice in a 20-second span, and freshman guard Brittany Harden (Millville, N.J./Sacred Heart) stretched the William Paterson lead to double digits with a layup at the 1:10 mark (65-55).

Jackiewicz was 8-for-16 (.500) overall and 5-for-10 (.500) from three-point range, adding a career-best 12 rebounds for the second double-double of her career.  Jeter added a game-high five assists to her 16 tallies and 11 boards, and Marfo led all players with 13 rebounds, chipping in seven points.  Harden contributed 11 tallies, eight rebounds and four assists from off the bench.  For the first time all season, Borova failed to reach double figures in scoring (nine), but she did become the WP single-season steals (113) and three-pointers attempted (217) leader.

Five lead changes and five ties marked an evenly-played, defensive struggle during the game's first 20 minutes.  William Paterson possessed a 26-24 halftime lead, thanks largely to a +10 rebounding margin that led to a 13-2 advantage in second-chance points.

Gettysburg was led by Jessica Porter's 22 points and 11 rebounds.  Doane had 11 tallies, four assists and five steals, and Alyssa Isler chipped in 11 points for the Bullets, who enjoyed a decided crowd advantage due to their campus being located approximately 30 miles away from Brubaker Auditorium.

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