Box Score

BETHLEHEM, PA. – Junior forward April Smith (Barnegat, N.J./Southern Regional) earned tournament MVP honors with 25 points and 21 rebounds, leading the William Paterson women's basketball team (10-2) to a 71-63 win against the host Greyhounds (5-6) in the championship game of the Starters/Moravian Winter Classic on Jan. 3.

Smith, who had 12 tallies and 11 rebounds during a 61-56 first-round win against Frostburg State Jan. 2, was joined on the All-Tournament Team by junior guard BriAnna Lucas (Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham), who posted 20 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals against Moravian.

The Pioneers stormed out to a 33-19 advantage less than 14 minutes into the contest, but the Greyhounds closed the period with a 19-7 run, and William Paterson entered the locker room clinging to a two-point lead (40-38).

The two teams traded baskets for the opening six minutes of the second half, with Moravian actually going ahead by one (50-49, 14:07), before WP answered with an 8-0 burst triggered by back-to-back baskets from sophomore forward Tatiana Javis (Newark, N.J./ Bloomfield Tech) to pull ahead by a 57-50 count with 8:34 remaining.

The Greyhounds briefly pulled within two (57-55, 7:14), but William Paterson seized control by scoring eight of the next 10 points.

Freshman Dana Jeter (Hamilton, N.J./Steinert) contributed eight points and nine rebounds, and Javis finished with seven tallies. Freshman forward Jewell Palmer (Woodbridge, N.J./Woodbridge) had six points and eight rebounds.

Hilary Murray led four Moravian players in double figures with 14 points. Alexandra Blair posted 13 tallies and 12 rebounds.

Over the course of its two games at the tournament, the Pioneers turned the ball over a total of 19 times (seven vs. Frostburg State, 12 vs. Moravian). William Paterson out-rebounded the Greyhounds 59-43, including a 30-13 edge on the offensive glass.

The Pioneers will host Rutgers-Newark Wednesday, Jan. 5, at 8:00 p.m.