WASHINGTON, PA. – Trailing for the entire afternoon, William Paterson (18-12) scored eight of the game's final 10 points to win the ECAC Women's Basketball Tournament title, defeating NYU (18-11) by a 52-48 score in the championship game March 4. Senior forward Tori Woetzel (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) was named the Tournament MVP after notching 17 points, four rebounds and three blocked shots during the final.
 
The Pioneers, the third seed in Pod 1, trailed during the second half of each of its four ECAC triumphs and knocked off three straight No. 1 seeds in the four-pod format. WP was making its fifth ECAC Tournament appearance (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 2018) and secured its second title (1990, 2018).

The Violets dominated early, building a 17-2 advantage seven minutes into the contest and a 19-10 edge at the end of the first quarter. NYU still had a double-digit lead at 23-13 at the 6:47 mark of the second quarter, but WP reeled off a 10-2 run behind four points apiece from Woetzel and junior guard Julie Rovito (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park), making it a 25-23 game 1:23 before halftime. The Violets converted a jumper 20 seconds later and carried a 27-23 edge into the break.
 
When NYU scored the first six points of the third quarter (33-23, 8:18), William Paterson responded to get it within one possession by the end of the period (40-37). The Violets pushed it to a seven-point margin at 46-39 with 5:08 remaining in the contest, but Rovito went 1-for-2 from the line (46-40, 4:52), freshman guard Brianna Brooks (Saddle Brook, N.J./Saddle Brook) made a layup (46-42, 4:24) and Rovito converted an attempt in the paint (46-44, 4:02). Woetzel's bucket at the 1:56 mark tied the game at 46-46, and junior forward Carolyn Hill (Martinsburg, W.Va./Spring Mills) gave the Pioneers their first lead of the day with a pair of free throws with 1:20 left (48-46).
 
Two more free throws from Woetzel (50-46, 0:24) and a 2-for-2 trip to the stripe by Rovito (52-48, 0:08) iced the win for WP.

Rovito finished with 17 points, four rebounds and three assists, and Hill had a team-best six rebounds. Woetzel averaged 16.0 points, 8.0 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 3.0 blocks during the four games to earn the ECAC Tournament's Most Valuable Player award, and was joined on the All-Tournament Team by Rovito.
 
Senior forward Kayla Patterson led the Violets with 23 points and 12 rebounds.
 
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