Box Score

BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Junior Michelle Pellichero (Milltown, N.J./Bishop Ahr) scored a game-high 20 points, including four critical free throws in the game's final seconds, to help lead the William Paterson women's basketball team (11-2) to a 71-67 victory against host Moravian (6-5) in the first round of the STARTERS Winter Classic Jan. 5 in Bethlehem, Pa.

Clinging to a two-point lead (66-64) in the game's final minute, Pellichero was 4-for-4 from the foul line down the stretch to push the Pioneers ahead 70-65 with eight seconds remaining. Senior Luci Custis (Roselle, N.J./Abraham Clark) made one of two attempts from the charity stripe in the final second to ice the victory.

William Paterson led by nine (40-31) at halftime, but the Greyhounds fought back to lead by three (47-42, 14:11). The two teams traded scoring spurts for the next nine minutes, and were tied at 62-62 with 3:15 remaining. A jumper by Pellichero and a basket by Custis gave the Pioneers a four-point lead (66-62, 1:02), one they would not relinquish.

Pellichero made seven of 16 field goals for her 20 points. Custis notched her first double-double of the season with 15 points and a game-best 11 rebounds. Freshman Elisa Brown (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk) tallied 10 points, six rebounds and four steals, while senior Melissa Moore (East Orange, N.J./North Bergen) contributed 10 points and seven rebounds.

William Paterson attacked the backboards, outrebounding Moravian 59-36 overall and 29-4 on the offensive glass. The Pioneers outscored the Greyhounds 16-2 on second-chance points.

The Pioneers will look for their 10th straight win when they face William Smith in the STARTERS Winter Classic championship game Saturday, Jan. 6, at 3:00 p.m.