GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University women's basketball team pulled away in the fourth quarter to defeat William Paterson University, 67-48 in the first round of the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Championship Tournament on Saturday.

The fourth-seeded Profs (16-9) advance to the semifinals at the top seed Montclair State University (21-3) on Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 7 p.m. The Pioneers were the fifth seed and end the year with a 14-12 record.

Guard Summer Crilley (sr. Galloway, NJ/Holy Spirit) led Rowan with a double-double. She tallied 21 points, including 16 in the final period, and tied her career high with 11 rebounds. Guard/forward Alex Raring (sr. Linwood, NJ/Mainland Reg.) posted 15 points while center April Szymczyk (sr. Jackson, NJ/Jackson Liberty) totaled 14 points and seven boards. Guard Dominique Peters (so. Lawrenceville, NJ/Lawrence) contributed with 10 points, six assists and six steals. Guard Olivia Rulon (jr. Cape May Court House, NJ/Wildwood Catholic) grabbed six rebounds.

William Paterson forward Tori Woetzel (sr. Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) and guard Julie Rovito (jr. Ridgefield Park, NJ/Ridgefield Park) each produced 12 points, nine rebounds and five steals. Guard Brianna Brooks (fr. Saddle Brook, NJ/Saddle Brook) scored seven points and guard Danica DeFrank (fr. Fairfield, NJ/West Essex) chipped in with six. Guard CeCe Green (jr. Boonton, NJ/Boonton) corralled 10 rebounds.

The Profs were ahead 39-36 entering the fourth quarter. Crilley drilled a three (9:34) and a jumper (8:36) to make the score 44-36. Woetzel's jump shot (8:24) got the Pioneers within six (44-38). Rowan followed with an 11-0 run that ended at 6:30 and put the Profs up 55-38. Raring scored six points on a pair of three-pointers and Crilley added five. William Paterson poured in six straight points to trail by 11 (55-44) with 4:57 left. Raring made a basket (4:15), Peters had a layup (4:05) and Crilley sank a three (3:19) to lead by 18 (62-44) and put the game out of reach.

In the opening period, the score was tied at two. The Profs registered 14 consecutive points for a 16-2 lead (4:01). Five different players contributed to the rally, led by Crilley's five. Rowan was on top 20-6 after one quarter. Szymczyk made a layup (5:48) and a jumper (4:45) and the score was 30-12. The Pioneers closed the half with an 11-0 surge and were down by seven (30-23) at the break. Rovito sparked the charge with five points.

Szymczyk's layup at 8:03 of the third gave the Profs a 10-point cushion (35-25). William Paterson scored seven straight points to get within three (35-32) at 3:01. Four different players recorded points in the run. Rowan was ahead by five (39-34) before two foul shots by Brooks (0:34) made it a three-point game (39-36) entering the last stanza.