JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Four players scored in double figures for the William Paterson University women's basketball team (4-1, 2-0 NJAC), leading the Pioneers to an 85-41 trouncing of New Jersey City (0-6, 0-2 NJAC) on the road Nov. 29.
 
The 44-point win was the Pioneers' largest margin of victory since the team defeated the Gothic Knights by 56 points (94-38) on Feb. 11, 2012.
 
Junior Julie Rovito (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park) led all scorers with 18 points on 6-of-12 (.500) shooting. Senior Tori Woetzel (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) chipped in 13 points, while freshmen Sierra Strong (Howell, N.J./Freehold Boro) and Danica DeFrank (Fairfield, N.J./West Essex) netted 11 and 10 points, respectively. DeFrank also had an excellent defensive night, recording seven steals and a blocked shot. The Gothic Knights were led by Jesenia Montalvo with 14 points.
 
Defense was key for the Pioneers in the win, forcing 48 New Jersey City turnovers. WP also dominated in the paint, outscoring the Gothic Knights, 40-10, inside the key.
 
The Pioneers never trailed in the contest and led for 39:10 of the 40 minutes. Rovito gave WP its first lead with a layup just four seconds in. After the Gothic Knights tied the score at 6-6, the Orange and Black rattled off 13 unanswered points behind the strength of seven points by Woetzel, and capped off with a layup by freshman Ema Jacketti (Beacon, N.Y./Beacon) at the 2:13 mark of the first quarter.
 
The lead continued to grow during the second stanza when WP outscored New Jersey City, 21-7. Junior Tenille Stewart (Pennsauken, N.J./Pennsauken) led all scorers in the period with five points, while freshman Sierra Strong (Howell, N.J./Freehold Boro) chipped in four points during that stretch. The Pioneers closed out the half on an 11-0 run, leading 46-17 at the intermission.
 
The string of unanswered points continued into the second half, when the Pioneers eventually stretched the lead 37 points (54-17, 7:05) before the Gothic Knights ended the 19-point burst with a jumper by Montalvo. The momentum was only temporarily slowed, however, as WP continued to pull away for the 85-41 victory.
 
The Pioneers return to the Recreation Center on Saturday, Dec. 2, when they host Rowan in New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) play at 1:00 p.m.
 
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