Box Score

MAHWAH, N.J. – No. 23/24 William Paterson (21-3, 10-2 NJAC) held off a late Roadrunner charge and escaped with a 60-55 win at Ramapo (15-9, 5-7 NJAC) Feb. 14. Junior forward April Smith (Barnegat, N.J./Southern Regional) tallied her 16th double-double of the season with 18 points and 17 rebounds to lead the Pioneers.

Ramapo trimmed an 11-point (38-27) halftime deficit to five (41-36) with a 9-3 run to open the second half. When freshman Floriana Borova (Cresskill, N.J./Cresskill) knocked down a jumper, William Paterson was ahead 48-40 with 10:15 to play, but the Roadrunners scored the next five points over a 4:28 span, making it a 48-45 game with 5:47 remaining. The Pioneers' lead hovered between three and five during the next five minutes, but Alexa Ryan converted a pair of free throws for a 56-53 score with 22 seconds left. Junior guard BriAnna Lucas (Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham) missed the front end of a one-and-one, and a WP foul put Faith Flannery at the line. She made both attempts, cutting the Pioneers' lead to one (56-55, 0:16), but sophomore guard Lindsey Callander (Branchburg, N.J./Somerville) was fouled three seconds later and converted both free throws (58-55, 0:13). Ryan's miss from three-point range was rebounded by sophomore forward Tatiana Javis (Newark, N.J./ Bloomfield Tech), who added the final two points from the charity stripe with one second left.

William Paterson jumped out to a 9-2 lead to start the game, and led by as many as 19 (30-11, 7:25) before entering the locker room with a 38-27 edge. Lucas finished with 16 points and four assists, Borova scored eight points, and freshman Jewell Palmer (Woodbridge, N.J./Woodbridge) added seven tallies and six rebounds.

Ryan led Ramapo with 20 points and 10 rebounds, while Flannery scored 11 points.

The two teams will meet again to close out the regular season Wednesday, Feb. 16, at William Paterson at 6:00 p.m.