Box Score
MAHWAH, N.J. – Junior Asia Johnson (Wildwood, N.J./Wildwood) became the Pioneers' single-season blocked shots leader as the William Paterson women's basketball team (12-4, 4-1 NJAC) sailed past host Ramapo (3-13, 0-5 NJAC), 72-43, in NJAC women's basketball action Jan. 23.
Johnson, the reigning NJAC and Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association (MBWA) Player of the Week, added seven rebounds to her team-best 15 points and six blocked shots. She broke WP's single-season blocked shots record, picking up her 47th block to move past Jeanie Day's record of 46 (2002-03). Senior Michelle Pellichero (Milltown, N.J./Bishop Ahr) added 11 points, junior Lauren Miller (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) had nine tallies, freshman Christina Longo (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) and Phelan Livingston (Newton, N.J./Kittatinny Regional) each scored seven, and sophomore Julie Haledjian (Montvale, N.J./Pascack Hills) dished out a game-high four assists.
William Paterson built a 15-point lead during the game's first 13 minutes (25-10, 6:53), and the Pioneers entered the locker room with a 36-21 edge. WP put the game out of reach quickly during the second half, scoring 13 of the first 15 points to jump ahead by 26 (49-23, 16:44) thanks to three-pointers by Haledjian and Pellichero, as well as two-point buckets by Johnson and Longo.
The Pioneers' defense was again a key, as William Paterson scored 25 points off of 31 Roadrunner turnovers, and held Ramapo to 24.5 (12-49) percent shooting. The win was the fifth in six games for WP, and its 11th victory in its last 13 outings.
William Paterson will return to action Saturday, Jan. 26, hosting The College of New Jersey at 1:00 p.m.
