EWING, N.J – Fifth-seeded William Paterson (14-12) jumped out to an early lead at fifth-seeded The College of New Jersey (16-10), but the Pioneers were unable to finish off the Lions as TCNJ registered a 63-61 New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Women's Basketball Tournament first-round victory Feb. 21.
 
Eleven unanswered points, including three-pointers from freshman guards Jackie Rodriguez (Sayreville, N.J./Sayreville War Memorial) and Julie Rovito (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park), turned an 8-6 deficit into a 17-8 WP lead at the 13:08 mark of the first half. A later layup by junior guard Sara Luberto (Midland Park, N.J./Midland Park) made it a 10-point margin (27-17, 5:08), but the Lions closed the period with an 11-2 burst to cut the Pioneers' lead to one at 29-28 at the break.
 
William Paterson twice led by four during the opening moments of the second period before senior guard Kelly Coughlin's fast-break bucket pushed TCNJ ahead by one (39-38, 12:30). The two traded the lead back and forth nine times during the next nine minutes until senior forward Jessica Goldblach started a 7-0 Lion burst, making it a 60-54 score with 1:22 to play.
 
Rovito converted a layup (60-56, 1:02), and after a pair of TCNJ misses and turnover, junior forward Mary Haines (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park) was fouled. She made both to cut the lead two at 60-58 with 23 seconds left. Three seconds later senior guard Kylie O'Donnell had a 2-for-2 trip to the charity stripe, but junior guard Brittany Harden (Millville, N.J./Sacred Heart) again made it a one-possession game when she converted on WP's third attempt of its possession with a layup and foul. She completed the three-point play with her free throw (62-61, 0:05), and the Pioneers immediately fouled O'Donnell. She made the first of two free throws and WP came out with the rebound of the second, but was unable to get a final shot off in time.
 
Haines paced the Pioneers with 15 points and eight rebounds, adding four steals. Harden and Rodriguez each scored 12 tallies, and Rovito contributed seven points to go along with game bests of seven assists and five steals.
 
Junior guard Angelica Esposito led TCNJ with 19 points, and O'Donnell posted 14 tallies and nine rebounds.
 
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