Box Score 

WAYNE, N.J. – No. 16/15 William Paterson (8-0) used a balanced effort to cruise past visiting U.S. Merchant Marine (2-4), 73-44, Dec. 9.

Ten different players got into the scoring column for the Pioneers, led by BriAnna Lucas' (Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham) game-best 15 tallies. The sophomore added three assists and a game-high five steals, making four of five from the field, including all three attempts from three-point range. Senior Erin Cook (Princeton, N.J./Princeton) posted 12 points and five rebounds, while classmate Julie Haledjian (Montvale, N.J./Pascack Hills) contributed 11 points and a game-high six assists. Senior Elisa Brown (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk) added eight tallies and five caroms, and freshman Elena Noonan (Parsippany, N.J./Parsippany) collected a team-best six rebounds to go along with six points.

Both team shot better than 40 percent during the opening half, but the Pioneers were able to take a 13-point edge into the break (36-23) thanks, in part, to 19 points scored off 18 Mariner turnovers. Merchant Marine scored the first basket of the second half, but the 11-point difference was as close as USMMA would get to the nationally-ranked Pioneers.

Junior Rebecca Grimes led Merchant Marine with 12 points, and Brooke Picillo added nine tallies and three steals.

William Paterson will host The College of New Jersey Saturday, Dec. 12, at 1:00 p.m.