Box Score 

WAYNE, N.J. – Junior April Smith (Barnegat, N.J./Southern Regional) posted a double-double with game bests of 18 points and 10 rebounds as the William Paterson women's basketball team (1-0) began its 2009-10 season with a 63-54 victory against Manhattanville (0-1) Nov. 17.  For head coach Erin Monahan, it was her 299th career victory in her 17th season as her alma mater's coach (299-134).

Sophomore BriAnna Lucas (Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham) contributed 10 tallies, five rebounds and seven steals for the Pioneers. Senior Julie Haledjian (Montvale, N.J./Pascack Hills) added eight points and a team-high six assists.

William Paterson began the game with a 15-2 run, and led by as many as 17 midway through the period (28-11, 10:21) before a Simona Gordon three-pointer cut that advantage to 14 at 28-14 with 10:00 remaining. The two teams combined for just two points during the next 5:27, and the Valiants scored the last four tallies of the period to make it a 10-point game at the break, 34-24.

Manhattanville started the second half with a 9-4 burst, including five points from Nina Johnson, to make it a 38-33 score at the 16:53 mark. However, the Pioneers responded by scoring 10 of the next 12 points, capped by a Smith layup, to extend their lead to 13 (48-35, 11:12) and reassert control of the game. The Valiants would get no closer than six (50-44, 9:15) the rest of the way.

William Paterson owned a 24-9 edge in points off turnovers and a 13-6 advantage on the break. The Pioneers forced a total of 26 Manhattanville turnovers on the night.

Gordon led the Valiants with 17 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore Courtney Turner added 14 tallies, and Johnson collected 13 points and six boards.

William Paterson will take on Clark in the first round of the D-Angelo Tip-Off Classic at Bridgewater State (Mass.) Friday, Nov. 20, at 8:00 p.m.