Box Score

EWING, N.J. – The No. 23/23 William Paterson women's basketball team (14-2, 5-1 NJAC) extended its winning streak to seven games with a 72-53 victory at The College of New Jersey (8-7, 2-3 NJAC) Jan. 15.

Junior forward April Smith (Barnegat, N.J./Southern Regional) led all players with 26 points, and tied with teammate Jewell Palmer (Woodbridge, N.J./Woodbridge) for game-high rebounding honors with eight. Junior guard BriAnna Lucas (Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham) tallied 19 points, seven rebounds and four steals, while freshman forward Dana Jeter (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) had six tallies and four assists.

The Lions opened the game clicking as they made eight of their first 13 shots for a 17-16 lead midway through the half. Senior Alex Gregorek knocked down four of five field-goal attempts and established an inside presence early in the contest.

The Pioneers caught fire late in the period to take command. Lucas hit back-to-back three-pointers as William Paterson took its largest lead of the opening stanza, 38-23, with 2:51 remaining. William Paterson was perfect from the line, hitting all 14 foul shots as Lucas and Smith knocked down four each.

TCNJ made a run late in the second half, rattling off eight straight points spearheaded by the play of Jessica Imhoff and Liz West. That closed the gap to 63-48. After Smith hit a layup, Gregorek responded with an eight-foot jumper, but freshman guard Kristine Jackiewicz (Quakertown, Pa./Quakertown) buried a shot from the behind the arc to put the game out of reach.

Imhof stood out on offense, leading TCNJ with 13 points and five assists. Gregorek netted 12 points and collected five rebounds, while Keri Washington finished with nine points and a pair of assists.

William Paterson will host Saint Elizabeth Wednesday, Jan. 19, at 7:00 p.m.