Box Score 

BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – Senior Julie Haledjian (Montvale, N.J./Pascack Hills) was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player to lead the William Paterson women's basketball team (3-0) to a 77-68 victory against host Bridgewater State (1-1) in the championship game of the D-Angelo Tip-Off Classic Nov. 21.

Haledjian had 15 points, six rebounds and seven assists against the Bears, a day after posting 10 tallies, three assists and two steals against Clark in the opening round Nov. 20. She was joined on the All-Tournament Team by junior April Smith (Barnegat, N.J./Southern Regional), who tallied 16 points, eight boards and three blocked shots during the championship game after contributing 18 tallies and six rebounds in the first round.

The Pioneers dominated the early going, opening up a 17-point halftime lead (43-26) and pulling ahead by as many as 27 (59-32, 14:11) during the second half. William Paterson was ahead by a 74-57 margin with 2:15 remaining before Bridgewater State scored 11 of the final 14 points, including five from the free-throw line. The final margin was as close as the Bears got to the Pioneers since the 5:38 mark of the opening half.

Sophomore BriAnna Lucas (Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham) chipped in 11 points for WP, while senior Erin Cook (Princeton, N.J./Princeton) had eight tallies and six rebounds. After a hot hand during the first half, shooting 18-for-38 (.474) overall and 4-for-7 (.571) from beyond the arc, William Paterson was 10-for-30 (.333) during the second stanza to finish with a 41.2 (28-68) shooting percentage overall. The Pioneer defense held Bridgewater State to a 26-for-71 (.366) effort from the floor and a 2-for-20 (.100) night from three-point range.

Shelly DePina had a double-double for the Bears with 19 points and 13 rebounds. Corey Cuddihy added 12 tallies, and Michaela Cosby had nine points and 11 boards.

William Paterson will next play Tuesday, Nov. 24, at Stevens at 6:00 p.m.