KEENE, N.H. – Senior forward Ashley Marfo (Bergenfield, N.J./Bergenfield) posted her eighth career double-double with 16 points and a game-best 13 rebounds as the William Paterson women's basketball team (6-5) registered a 68-62 victory against Regis (4-2) Dec. 30 in the first round of the Keene State Holiday Tournament.
 
The Pioneers will face the host Owls in the championship game Wednesday, Dec. 31, at 2:00 p.m.
 
Nine ties and eight lead changes marked the back-and-forth contest. WP led by as many as eight (16-8, 13:01) before the Pride was able to create a 34-33 halftime edge, and Regis' largest advantage came at 54-47 with 9:09 to play.
 
A three-pointer by freshman guard Julie Rovito (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park), two Nikole Williams (Valley Stream, N.Y./Valley Stream Central) free throws and a Brittany Harden (Millville, N.J./Sacred Heart) trey quickly erased that lead in a two-minute span, the start of a 13-2 run that pushed the Pioneers ahead by a 60-56 count with 4:52 on the clock. When the Pride cut it to one (60-59, 2:56), Williams drained a second-chance three-pointer during William Paterson's next possession, and when a Regis trey later made it a one-possession game (64-62, 0:41), Harden and Marfo combined to go 4-for-4 from the charity stripe down the stretch to secure the victory.
 
Harden finished with 18 points and a game-high six assists, and junior forward Mary Haines (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park) had 12 tallies and eight rebounds.
 
Senior guard Emilee Marro led Regis with 22 points, and senior guard/forward Teresa Busiek contributed 12 tallies and six boards.
 
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