FROSTBURG, Md. – Eight months removed from a loss to William Paterson University in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Tournament, the Gettysburg College women's basketball team returned the favor in its season opener on Friday night, taking down the 18th-ranked Pioneers 51-47 at the Frostburg State University Jim Crawley Tip-Off Tournament.

Sophomore Jessica Porter (Narberth, Pa./Lower Merion), who lit up the Pioneers for 22 points in last season's finale, dropped in a game-high 15 points on Friday night. Senior Caroline Murphy (Chatham, N.J./Chatham) added a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while senior Alyssa Isler (New Hope, Pa./New Hope-Solebury) recorded 10 points. 

Dana Jeter and Floriana Borova each posted 14 points for William Paterson. Jeter added 13 rebounds, while Kristine Jackiewicz tallied 10 points and 10 boards.

William Paterson knocked the Bullets out of the postseason with a 71-64 decision on March 1 of this year, but this time around the Pioneers found themselves at the mercy of Gettysburg's defensive pressure. William Paterson canned just 9-of-37 field goals (24.3 percent) in the opening half of play, including going 0-for-10 effort from beyond the arc.

The contest was close early with several lead changes and ties. The Pioneers jumped ahead 18-16 on a putback by Jeter with 6:30 left in the opening period. Gettysburg closed the half on a huge run as Porter turned in the next two buckets to kick off a 15-0 surge and give the Bullets a 31-18 lead at the break.

Murphy padded the lead with the opening field goal of the second period, but William Paterson hung around, eventually whittling the deficit down to a single possession. A pair of free throws by Sara Luberto pulled the Pioneers to 45-41 with 6:19 to play.

Gettysburg did not make a field goal in the final 10 minutes, but the squad made up for the cold shooting with a dominant effort on the boards as the Bullets out-rebounded their opponents 12-3 over the final 5:53. Following a made three-pointer by Borova that cut the deficit to two (46-44), the Pioneers would come up empty on their next six possessions with Gettysburg preventing any second chance looks.

Murphy iced the game down the stretch, capping a 10-point, nine-rebound second half with four consecutive free throws to put her team up 51-44 in the final seconds of action.

Gettysburg finished 18-of-48 from the field (37.5 percent). The Bullets canned 13-of-16 attempts from the free throw line and out-rebounded William Paterson 46-37.

The victory was Gettysburg's first over a ranked opponent since beating then-No. 9 Muhlenberg College 60-57 in overtime on Jan. 14, 2012.

Gettysburg will face King's (Pa.) College in Saturday's championship game at 3 p.m. King's defeated host Frostburg State 74-69.