GALLOWAY, N.J. – Junior guard Julie Rovito (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park) narrowly missed out on a triple-double after dropping 25 points with 10 assists and eight rebounds to lead the William Paterson women's basketball team (5-3, 3-2 NJAC) to an 80-79 victory at Stockton (5-3, 2-3 NJAC) Dec. 9.
 
Rovito's 25 points and 10 assists were both new career bests and helped her collect her third career double-double. Senior Tori Woetzel (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) and junior Ashley Castillo (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park) also finished in double figures, tallying 16 and 12 points, respectively. The Ospreys were led by Sasha Williams who had an outstanding game in her own right, scoring 21 points while grabbing 15 rebounds, and adding seven assists and five blocks.
 
The Pioneers held a 44-35 advantage on the glass and a 24-17 edge in points off turnovers, which proved to be the difference after both schools posted nearly identical shooting numbers.
 
After Stockton took an 18-17 lead at the end of the first quarter, the Pioneers torched the Ospreys for 24 points during the second period to take a 43-33 lead into the locker room for the halftime break. After WP pushed the lead up to 12 points (59-47) with 2:36 to play in the third quarter, the Ospreys began to chip away at the deficit. An 11-2 burst by Stockton cut the lead down to three points (61-58) early in the final stanza, and the run continued, with the Ospreys eventually earning a five-point lead (72-67) with 4:26 to play.
 
WP had the answer for Stockton's run however, as the Orange and Black rattled off eight unanswered points, led by five tallies by Woetzel, to retake the lead at 75-72. A three-point play by Najha Treadwell leveled the scoring once again with 2:23 remaining, but Castillo responded with a three-point play of her own on the following possession. Treadwell did all she could to keep Stockton within reach, adding another four points in the final minute, but a Rovito layup with 56 seconds remaining pushed WP ahead for good as the Pioneers held on for the 80-79 final.
 
The Pioneers return to action on Tuesday, Dec. 12, when they travel to Staten Island for a non-conference matchup beginning at 7:00 p.m.
 
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