Box Score 

UNION, N.J. – Sophomore BriAnna Lucas (Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham) scored a game-high 25 points but it wasn't enough for No. 9/9 William Paterson (14-1, 2-1 NJAC), which suffered its first loss of the season in a 102-66 decision at No. 3/4 Kean (15-1, 4-0 NJAC) Jan. 9.

In a battle of the two divisional leaders in the New Jersey Athletic Conference, the Cougars took control of the game with an opening 19-6 spurt, and built a 58-36 halftime advantage behind 58.5 (24-41) percent shooting. William Paterson got to within seven thanks to a Lucas trey with 13:15 to play (19-12), but Kean scored eight of the next 10 points (27-14, 11:50), and later put together a 12-2 run to pull ahead by 20 (43-23, 7:35). The Pioneers made just 12 of 34 (.353) attempts during the first 20 minutes and uncharacteristically turned the ball over 20 times, well above their average of 13.3 per game that ranked third in Division III.

Back-to-back buckets by Lucas and senior Julie Haledjian (Montvale, N.J./Pascack Hills) early in the second half made it a 62-40 score (18:04), but that was as close as the Pioneers would get to the Cougars, who made 19 of 32 (.594) from the floor during the second period to finish the afternoon with a 58.9 (43-73) field-goal percentage.

Lucas added four steals to her season-best 25 tallies. Haledjian finished with 10 points and four assists, and freshman Allyson Scerbo (Phillipsburg, N.J./Phillipsburg) scored a career-best 10 points. Senior Erin Cook (Princeton, N.J./Princeton) posted eight tallies and a team-high nine rebounds.

Naimah Clemons paced Kean with 20 points, adding four assists and four steals. Cardiss Jackman had 18 tallies, Melissa Beyruti contributed 12 points, four assists and five steals, and Tiffany Patrick had a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

William Paterson will return to action Wednesday, Jan. 13, at home against Rutgers-Newark at 6:00 p.m.