Box Score
WAYNE, N.J. – The No. 13/13 William Paterson women's basketball team (13-0) steadily extended a five-point halftime lead into a 25-point victory in the championship game of the William Paterson/Residence Inn Winter Classic Jan. 3, turning aside Susquehanna (6-6) by a 69-44 score. Sophomore
BriAnna Lucas (Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham) was named the Most Valuable Player after scoring 11 points in the final, a day after pouring in 20 during a 69-50 win against Union.
Ahead 28-23 after shooting just 29.4 (10-34) percent from the floor during the opening 20 minutes, the Pioneers made 17 of 32 attempts (.531) during the second half while limiting Susquehanna to 8-of-28 (.286) shooting and causing 15 turnovers in the final 20 minutes of play.
Lucas was joined on the All-Tournament Team by senior
Elisa Brown (Norwalk, Conn./Norwalk), who posted 12 points, nine rebounds and four steals. Classmate
Julie Haledjian (Montvale, N.J./Pascack Hills) led William Paterson with 18 tallies, chipping in three assists and three steals, while freshman
Lindsey Callander (Branchburg, N.J./Somerville) contributed 12 points.
Sophomore Jessica Zigarelli earned all-tournament team honors for Susquehanna with her game highs of 19 points and 12 rebounds. Senior Ashley Watkins added seven tallies and six boards.
Haledjian scored seven of the Pioneers' first nine points as William Paterson built an early 13-5 lead (13:57). WP was ahead by 12, 27-15, with 3:55 to play before halftime, but the Crusaders scored eight of the last nine points to make it a five-point game at the break.
Zigarelli drained a jumper in the paint to start the second period and make it a one-possession contest (28-25, 18:58), but a Haledjian basket helped start a William Paterson run that resulted in a 45-30 Pioneer lead with 12:46 remaining.
WP will return to action Wednesday, Jan. 6, at Widener at 7:00 p.m.
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Box Score
WAYNE, N.J. – Union (2-7) overcame a 14-point first-half deficit to defeat SUNY New Paltz (5-3), 64-56, in the consolation game of the William Paterson/Residence Inn Winter Classic Jan. 3.
Down by seven less than five minutes into the second half (43-36, 15:13), the Dutchwomen scored eight straight points, the last two coming from Leah Pepe at the line, to take their first lead since the opening moments at 44-43 with 9:28 remaining. Senior Carly Minehan momentarily knotted the score for New Paltz with a 1-for-2 trip to the stripe (44-44, 8:43), but Union made three of its next four free throws to forge a 47-44 advantage 30 seconds later.
Two more free throws by Minehan got the Hawks back within one (47-46, 7:26), but two straight buckets by Megan Clark, and a later trey by Clark from the top of the key, broke open the contest and gave the Dutchwomen a 54-47 advantage. It remained at least a two-possession game for the remaining five minutes, as Union made seven of 10 free throws during the game's last 45 seconds to squelch the Hawks' comeback hopes.
Named to the All-Tournament Team, Clark paced the Dutchwomen with 18 points, adding nine rebounds. Junior Lauren McCormick posted 14 tallies and 13 rebounds for Union, which was 11-for-25 (.440) from the field during the second period while limiting New Paltz to a 7-for-29 (.241) effort.
New Paltz was led by sophomore Caitlin Irwin with 15 points. Senior Kristen Caban had 13 tallies, and classmate Maggie Farrell scored 10 to earn all-tournament team laurels.
New Paltz jumped out to a quick 10-1 lead (16:44) and was ahead by as many as 14 (31-17, 4:31) during the opening half behind 42.9 (6-14) percent shooting from beyond the arc. The Hawks entered the locker room with a 33-26 advantage, led by Caban's 3-for-5 effort from three-point range for a game-best nine points at the break.
