Box Score 

WAYNE, N.J. – Sophomore forward April Smith (Barnegat, N.J./Southern Regional) poured in 28 points while collecting a game-high 13 rebounds, sparking William Paterson (8-3) to a 77-68 victory against visiting Lehman (6-4) in women's basketball action Dec. 20.

The Lightning opened the contest with a 13-5 lead, but a 13-4 Pioneer run gave William Paterson its first lead since the opening moments at 18-17 with 8:21 remaining in the first half. That advantage stretched to as many as 10 (36-26, 2:15), and the Pioneers entered the locker room with a 39-32 lead. Smith did most of the damage for WP during the opening 20 minutes, shooting 8-for-10 from the floor and 4-for-5 from the foul line for 20 points off the bench.

William Paterson looked like it was going to cruise to an easy victory, extending its lead to as many as 19 during the second period (63-44, 10:38), but a late 15-4 Lehman burst made it a five-point contest (73-68) with 1:30 to play. Junior Deidra Thompson (Prospect Park, N.J./Paterson Eastside) got free on a breakaway, but Lehman's Whittney Barnes came in hard as Thompson attempted the layup and was whistled for an intentional foul with 1:19 remaining. Thompson made one of the two free throws (74-68), and following a WP missed three-pointer and Lightning rebound, Thompson drew a Sally Nnamani charge, giving the ball back to the Pioneers with 38.2 seconds to play. Lehman was forced to foul for the remainder of the contest, and junior guard Julie Haledjian (Montvale, N.J./Pascack Hills) made three of four free throws during the game's final 30 seconds to seal the victory for William Paterson.

Smith posted her sixth double-double of the season, shooting 10-of-14 (.714) from the floor and 8-for-13 (.615) from the line. Haledjian registered 13 points, six assists and three steals, and freshman BriAnna Lucas (Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham) added 10 tallies and four assists. Sophomore forward Absatu Mustapha (Somerset, N.J./Franklin) chipped in eight points and four assists while playing some excellent defense on Nnamani, while junior guard Erin Cook (Princeton, N.J./Princeton) collected nine points, four rebounds and three steals.

Barnes led the Lightning with 18 points and nine rebounds, and Nnamani collected 16 tallies and nine boards. Senior forward Monique Sampson rounded out Lehman's double-digit scorers with 12.

William Paterson will return to action at the Moravian/STARTERS Classic, facing Bridgewater State in the first round Friday, Jan. 2, at 6:00 p.m.