Box Score

BETHLEHEM, PA. – Junior guard BriAnna Lucas (Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham) scored 15 of her game-high 27 points during the second half as William Paterson (9-2) overcame a 10-point deficit to register a 61-56 women's basketball victory against Frostburg State (4-8) during the Starters/Moravian Winter Classic first round on Jan. 2. The Pioneers will face the Moravian/King's winner in the championship game Monday, Jan. 3, at 3:00 p.m.

The Bobcats erased a two-point halftime deficit (29-27) with a 15-4 run to open the second half, building a 42-33 edge less than five minutes into the period. Frostburg State led by as many as 10 (47-37, 13:07) before junior forward April Smith (Barnegat, N.J./Southern Regional) ignited a 12-3 spurt with a jumper, and the Pioneers pulled within one at 50-49 with 6:38 to play.

Following a Bobcat bucket, Lucas made one of two at the free-throw line (52-50, 4:43), and 12 seconds later turned a steal into a fastbreak layup to even the score at 52-52. Another Lucas steal was followed by a foul, and freshman Dana Jeter (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) followed her own miss of the back end of a two-shot foul (54-52, 4:19) to nudge William Paterson ahead for a lead it did not relinquish. Lucas added another layup for a four-point lead before 160 seconds of scoreless action that was ended by a Frostburg basket (56-54, 1:18). After a pair of WP offensive rebounds, Smith finally found the bottom of the net to again make it a two-possession game (58-54) with less than 30 seconds left.

Lucas added five rebounds, four assists and five steals to her 27 points. Smith had 12 tallies and a team-best 11 rebounds and four blocked shots. Jeter posted four points and eight rebounds, and sophomore guard Lindsey Callander (Branchburg, N.J./Somerville) added eight points and five assists.

Stephanie Straka paced Frostburg State with 12 points and five assists. Mindy Sharp chipped in eight tallies and 13 rebounds.