EWING, N.J. – Three Pioneers scored in double figures as the William Paterson women's basketball team (8-5, 3-3 NJAC) ran its win streak to four games with a 67-62 victory at The College of New Jersey (5-7, 2-4 NJAC) Jan. 4.
Freshman guard Gabby Harris (South River, N.J./South River) led all players with 18 points and nine rebounds, while senior forward Janea Clark (South Plainfield, N.J./South Plainfield) collected 15 tallies and seven boards. Sophomore guard Julie Rovito (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park) chipped in 13 points.
The Lions stormed out to a 25-10 lead by the end of the first quarter and owned a 28-15 advantage with 8:02 on the clock in the second, but four straight points from Clark ignited a 9-0 WP run that helped cut the TCNJ lead to 36-31 by halftime.
Rovito's fast-break layup knotted the score at 38-38 at the 6:22 mark of the third quarter. Four lead changes and two ties marked the game's next three minutes, and buckets by Rovito, Clark and freshman guard Kristina Ulrich (Secaucus, N.J./Secaucus) allowed William Paterson to carry a 50-47 edge into the final period.
Eight more lead changes and three ties left it a 62-60 Lion advantage with 1:51 remaining. Senior guard Nikole Williams (Valley Stream, N.Y./Valley Stream Central) made one of two free throws 15 seconds later, and a Harris defensive rebound and jumper pushed WP ahead by a 63-62 count with 46 seconds left. She was fouled on the play and missed the free throw, but the rebound went the Pioneers' way, and another foul put Rovito at the charity stripe. She made both free throws (65-62, 0:20), junior forward Tori Woetzel (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) later blocked a TCNJ shot with 10 seconds left, and Williams came away with the ball. She was fouled and sank both attempts to finish the scoring with eight seconds on the clock.
Junior guard Charlotte Schum led the Lions with 12 points and eight rebounds.
William Paterson will host Rutgers-Newark Saturday, Jan. 7, at 1:00 p.m.
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