Box Score 

MONTCLAIR, N.J. – Sophomore forward April Smith (Barnegat, N.J./Southern Regional) posted a double-double with 26 points and 17 rebounds as William Paterson (15-5, 7-1 NJAC) took over sole possession of first place in the New Jersey Athletic Conference North Division with a 73-60 victory at Montclair State (11-7, 6-2 NJAC) Jan. 28.

Freshman guard BriAnna Lucas (Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham) netted 23 points as the Pioneers won for the 10th time in their last 12 games. Junior Erin Cook (Princeton, N.J./Princeton) netted a double-double of her own with 14 tallies and 11 boards.

For Montclair State, junior forward Kisandra Ayanbeku recorded a double-double with 19 points and 15 rebounds as the Red Hawks lost their third straight following an earlier 10-game winning streak.

Lucas scored 14 points in the first half as the Pioneers, who led from start to finish, scored the first four points of the game. A bucket by Ayanbeku got the Red Hawks within 9-8 with 15:03 to go, but the Pioneers went on a 17-0 run over the next eight minutes to go up by 18 points (26-8) with 7:29 to play before halftime.

Lucas ignited the run with a layup and Smith beat the shot clock with a 15-foot jumper before Lucas added another layup to make the score 15-8. Cook had a jumper of her own and then buried a three-pointer from the left side as the lead expanded to 24-8. Lucas capped off the spurt, finishing off a fast break as William Paterson went into halftime ahead 37-23. Smith had 12 points and 10 rebounds during the opening 20 minutes.

In the second half, William Paterson pushed the lead to as many as 18, the last at 47-29 on a Smith layup with 14:44 left. Montclair State would make a run, cutting the lead back to 53-45 on an Ayanbeku running jumper with 8:28 to go. Smith, however, would answer for the Pioneers and Cook's three-point play restored the lead to 12 points (58-46) with 7:24 remaining.

Montclair would again threaten, getting to within eight at 60-52 with 3:32 to play as freshman Jenna Totaro connected from behind the arc. William Paterson put the game away by going 11-for-12 from the charity stripe during the game's final 2:37..

Guard Julie Haledjian (Montvale, N.J./Pascack Hills) added four points, three rebounds and six assists for the Pioneers, who sizzled at the free throw line, converting 22 of 24 chances overall (.917).

Sophomore guard Jamilee Pflug had 13 points for Montclair State, which shot 24-of-65 (.369) from the field. Jackie Berry added 12 points, five rebounds and four assists, and Totaro put up nine points and three rebounds.

William Paterson will host No. 21 Kean Saturday, Jan. 31, when the Pioneers celebrate “National Girls and Women in Sports Day” at 1:00 p.m.