Video Highlights WAYNE, N.J – The William Paterson women's basketball team (11-8, 7-5 NJAC) pulled to within three late, but couldn't overcome visiting Richard Stockton (16-4, 12-1 NJAC), 80-73, Jan. 31 at the Rec Center.
The Ospreys controlled the first half, jumping out to a 37-24 lead less than 15 minutes into the contest and carrying a 43-31 advantage into the locker room thanks to 59.3 (16-27) percent shooting from the field.
Stockton had the game well in hand at the 8:38 mark of the second period with a 69-53 edge. But, the Pioneers put together a 16-3 run, half of those tallies coming from junior guard
Brittany Harden (Millville, N.J./Sacred Heart), to make it a 72-69 game with 2:56 left. Osprey freshman forward Sasha Williams answered with a layup, but Harden made two free throws to keep it a one-possession game (74-71, 1:21).
Williams again countered with a layup, this time 10 seconds later, and after a WP miss junior guard Jazmin Palma went 2-for-2 at the charity stripe for a 78-71 edge with 40 seconds to play. The two teams traded turnovers until junior forward
Mary Haines (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park) converted a layup (78-73, 0:12), but Stockton made two final free throws with 10 seconds remaining to ice the victory.
Harden led all scorers with 22 points, adding five assists and a game-best four steals. Junior forward
Alex Milne (Howell, N.J./Howell) posted 12 tallies and a team-best seven rebounds, junior guard
Sara Luberto (Midland Park, N.J./Midland Park) had 12 points and freshman guard
Jackie Rodriguez (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) finished with 11 tallies.
Senior forward Sara Farrell paced Stockton with 18 points, adding eight rebounds, and Williams posted a double-double with 15 tallies and 10 boards. Freshman guard Lea Mendolla had 14 points, junior guard Lauren Bowler posted 11 tallies and senior guard Alex Nardoza finished with 10.
William Paterson will play at New Jersey City Monday, Feb. 2, at 6:00 p.m.
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