Box Score 

WAYNE, N.J. – In a back-and-forth game that saw scoring runs by both teams, William Paterson (6-3) had the final answer, scoring five of the final six points for a 61-58 victory against visiting Mount Saint Mary (4-4) Dec. 13 in women's basketball action at the Rec Center.

The Blue Knights had the early momentum, jumping out to a 9-3 advantage during the game's first three minutes. However, trailing 12-10 at the 14:34 mark, the Pioneers fought back with nine unanswered points, a run capped by back-to-back three-pointers from juniors Elisa Brown (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk) and Julie Haledjian (Montvale, N.J./Pascack Hills), for a 19-12 edge (10:30). MSMC pulled to within two a minute later, but a 10-1 spurt helped push William Paterson ahead 29-18 (3:55), and the Pioneers entered the locker room with a 31-27 lead.

An early second-half 10-point lead for William Paterson quickly evaporated, and back-to-back Jess Tice baskets later gave Mount Saint Mary its largest lead of the second half at 43-38 with 10:28 to play. William Paterson scored 14 of the next 16 points (52-45, 6:51), but a 12-2 run put the Blue Knights ahead 57-54 with 3:54 on the clock. A free throw by sophomore April Smith (Barnegat, N.J./Southern Regional) and two more by freshman guard BriAnna Lucas (Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham) tied the contest at 57-57 (1:48), and Lucas turned a MSMC miss into a fast-break layup on the other end (59-57, 1:22). Lucas then went for the steal in the back court but fouled Catie Biordi, who made the first of two free throws to cut the lead in half. Following a WP miss, Chrissy Zrowka came away with the rebound but turned it over, giving possession back to the Pioneers. The Blue Knights were forced to foul, and junior Kelly McCourt (West Milford, N.J./West Milford) stepped to the line and drained both free throws with 11.5 seconds to play to give William Paterson a three-point cushion. Mount Saint Mary had one last chance, but Biordi could not get a handle on the ball along the three-point line and was unable to attempt a shot as time expired.

Junior guard Erin Cook (Princeton, N.J./Princeton) posted 12 points and 10 rebounds during the first half, and finished the contest with 17 tallies and 11 boards to lead the Pioneers. Sophomore April Smith (Barnegat, N.J./Southern Regional) added 16 tallies and eight rebounds, and Haledjian had 13 tallies and four steals.

Junior Shannon Sangster led Mount Saint Mary with 20 points and 14 rebounds, while Meredith Paggi chipped in with 18 tallies and eight boards.

William Paterson will return to action Thursday, Dec. 18, at home against Mount Saint Vincent at 7:00 p.m.