Box Score

WAYNE, N.J. – In a battle of two of the top teams in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) standings, the William Paterson women's basketball team (13-4, 5-1 NJAC) held off The College of New Jersey (13-5, 4-2 NJAC), 71-67, Jan. 26.

WP and TCNJ, tied for first place overall in the NJAC standings with Kean (4-1 NJAC) to begin the day, traded the lead 13 times and tied the score on eight occasions during the 40-minute contest.

The Lions made their first four shots of the game, and led by as many as six (12-6, 15:41) during the opening minutes of the contest, but the Pioneers fought back with a 12-4 run (18-16, 11:07). The battle continued for the remainder of the period as neither team could build more than a four-point edge, and the two sides entered the locker room deadlocked at 35-35.

TCNJ made 56.5 (13-23) percent of its shots during the first 20 minutes, including a 4-for-8 (.500) effort from three-point range, compared to WP's 32.1 (9-28) percent effort. However, the Pioneers scored 12 points from the line (12-15, .800) and turned the ball over just six times (TCNJ 5-10 free throws, 12 turnovers).

A Michelle Pellichero (Milltown, N.J./Bishop Ahr) three-pointer and three straight baskets by Asia Johnson (Wildwood, N.J./Wildwood) gave the Pioneers a mini 9-1 spurt early in the second half and an eight-point lead (52-44, 12:16). TCNJ rallied and made it a one-point game less than five minutes later (53-52, 7:53), but Johnson scored five unanswered points, and a Christina Longo (Middletown, N.J./Middletown South) free throw seemingly put William Paterson in control at 59-52 with 3:48 remaining.

The Lions' Nicole Diaz drained a three twenty seconds later, and a pair of Kelsey Kutch free throws with 2:59 on the clock again pulled TCNJ within two at 59-57, but Pellichero's jumper and Julie Haledjian's (Montvale, N.J./Pascack Hills) trey made it a seven-point cushion for the Pioneers with 65 seconds remaining. Another Diaz three with nine ticks on the clock gave The College of New Jersey one last hope (70-67), but Johnson made one of two free throws to make it a two-possession game with seven seconds to play, thwarting any last-second chance for the Lions to force overtime.

The Pioneers' defense limited TCNJ to 35.3 (12-34) percent shooting during the second stanza, and just nine trips to the charity stripe compared to WP's 14-for-21 (.667) effort from the line during the final period. For the contest, the Pioneers were 26-of-36 (.722) from the free-throw line, compared to TCNJ's 11-for-19 (.579) shooting. WP also turned 22 Lion turnovers into 16 points while committing just 14 turnovers.

Pellichero was one shy of her career high with 26 points, making seven of 10 field goals, all four attempts from three-point range, and eight of nine free throws (.889). Johnson registered her eighth double-double of the season with 18 points and 14 rebounds, adding three blocked shots and four steals, while sophomore Elisa Brown (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk) chipped in with 15 points, three assists and three steals.

Hilary Klimowicz led the Lions with 20 points and 12 rebounds. Diaz added 12 points, while Kutch and Sara Best each scored 10 tallies.

William Paterson will host Rutgers-Newark Wednesday, Jan. 30, at 6:00 p.m.