WAYNE, N.J – Five Pioneers were in double figures in scoring as the William Paterson women's basketball team (8-5, 4-2 NJAC) earned a 78-71 home victory against Kean (8-5, 3-3 NJAC) Jan. 7.

Senior guard Brittany Harden (Millville, N.J./Sacred Heart) posted five assists and five steals while matching her career high with 21 points, and junior forward Alex Milne (Howell, N.J./Howell) registered her first double-double as a Pioneer with 10 tallies and 12 rebounds. Freshman guard Jackie Rodriguez (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) was 3-for-4 (.750) from three-point range for 14 points off the bench, freshman guard Julie Rovito (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park) had 12 tallies and eight boards, and junior guard Sara Luberto (Midland Park, N.J./Midland Park) contributed 10 points. Senior forward Ashley Marfo (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) just missed out on a double-double with nine tallies and 11 rebounds.

WP looked like it would run away early, building a 16-7 lead less than six minutes into the game, but a 16-4 run later in the period put the Cougars out in front, 36-32 with 2:43 on the clock. A late Luberto basket allowed the Pioneers to salvage a 42-40 halftime advantage.

Six lead changes and two ties marked the first 10 minutes of the second period until a Harden three-pointer started a 12-2 William Paterson run that made it a 66-57 Pioneer lead with 7:27 remaining. When Kean pulled to within four late (73-69, 1:38), Rodriguez and Harden combined to go 5-for-6 (.833) from the free-throw line down the stretch to secure the win.

Junior forward Jazmine Davis led the Cougars with 25 points and eight rebounds, and freshman center Najha Treadwell finished with 14 tallies.

William Paterson will visit Rutgers-Newark Saturday, Jan. 10, at 6:00 p.m.

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