UNION, N.J. – William Paterson (14-11, 11-7 NJAC) secured the fifth seed in the upcoming New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) Women's Basketball Tournament with a 60-54 victory at Kean (9-15, 6-12 NJAC) Feb. 14 during the regular-season finale.
 
WP will play at fourth-seeded Rowan (15-9, 12-6 NJAC) Saturday, Feb. 17, at 1:00 p.m. in the first round of the NJAC Tournament. WP students with ID will be admitted for free.
 
During a game that featured seven lead changes and four ties, the Pioneers overcame a four-point deficit (52-48) with 3:38 left to pull away late. Back-to-back layups by junior guard Julie Rovito (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park) and senior forward Tori Woetzel (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) knotted the score 43 seconds later, and a CeCe Green (Boonton, N.J./Boonton) fast-break bucket and Woetzel field goal handed WP a 56-52 edge with 1:13 on the clock. Junior guard Ashley Castillo (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park) and Woetzel combined to go 6-for-6 from the free-throw line during the game's final 19 seconds to end the Cougars' comeback hopes.
 
Woetzel put down a career-best 23 points while chipping in nine rebounds and four steals. Rovito contributed 11 tallies, while freshman forward Sierra Strong (Howell, N.J./Freehold Boro) pulled down a career-high 14 rebounds in 14 minutes off the bench.
 
Sophomore guard Payce Lange scored 20 points for Kean, and freshman center Lorenzah Hammer collected 12 rebounds.
 
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