WAYNE, N.J. – Junior guard Julie Rovito scored 14 points and dished out four assists as the William Paterson women's basketball team (10-7, 7-3 NJAC) pulled away from visiting Ramapo (5-12, 2-8 NJAC) during the fourth quarter, 57-49 on Jan. 17, for its fourth straight victory.
The Pioneers scored the game's first eight points, but a 15-2 Roadrunner burst that spanned the first two quarters made it a 17-10 Ramapo advantage with 4:58 to play before halftime. WP responded by posting seven of the last nine tallies of the period behind an Alisa Giordano three-pointer and two free throws apiece by Rovito and senior forward Tori Woetzel, cutting the Roadrunner advantage to 25-23 at the break.
Rovito's trey less than two minutes into the second half ignited a 15-5 Pioneer run over the next six minutes, and William Paterson carried a 40-39 edge into the final period. When Ramapo seized a 43-42 lead at the 9:32 mark of the fourth quarter on a Tia Solomon layup, the Pioneers reeled off nine unanswered tallies to take control of the game for good at 52-43 with 6:18 left.
Woetzel added 10 points to her team-best eight rebounds, while freshman guard Brianna Brooks scored seven. Junior guard CeCe Green notched seven boards for the Pioneers, who turned a +3 turnover margin into a 22-10 advantage in points scored off the miscues. WP also owned the offensive glass, creating a +10 margin and a 16-6 edge in second-chance points.
Solomon collected 11 points and eight rebounds for the Roadrunners. Sophomore forward Jenna Harsh chipped in 11 tallies.
William Paterson will travel to Glassboro to face Rowan Saturday, Jan. 20, at 1:00 p.m.
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