Box Score

SPRINGFIELD, Mass . – The William Paterson women's basketball team (7-3) saw its six-game win streak come to an end, losing to Bates (5-3), 77-52, Jan. 3 in the first round of the Holiday Inn-Naismith Classic at Springfield College.

Junior Asia Johnson (Wildwood, N.J./Wildwood) led the Pioneers with 16 points, 13 rebounds and three blocked shots, connecting on six off 11 (.545) attempts from the floor, while sophomores Julie Haledjian (Montvale, N.J./Pascack Hills) and Elisa Brown (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk) each added eight tallies. The Pioneers were playing without leading scorer Michelle Pellichero (Milltown, N.J./Bishop Ahr), who was unavailable due to illness.

The Bobcats used an early 29-11 spurt to take control of the contest, and built a 32-17 halftime lead. For the game, Bates shot 50.8 (30-59) percent from the field, while the short-handed Pioneers connected on 25.7 (19-74) percent of their attempts.