STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. – Senior guard
Alisa Giordano (Wood-Ridge, N.J./Wood-Ridge) scored a team-high 15 points, including four free throws in the game's final minute, to send William Paterson women's basketball (1-0) to a 62-54 season-opening victory at Staten Island (0-2) Nov. 12.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- William Paterson forced eight first-quarter turnovers and limited Staten Island to just 3-of-14 shooting (.214) from the field for a 17-10 lead after ten minutes. Holding a slight 19-16 edge in the second stanza, the Pioneers went on an 11-0 run that covered 2:17 and took a 32-21 advantage into the break.
- A 5:00 scoring draught by WP allowed CSI to cut the deficit to single digits (34-28), but Giordano scored 10 third-quarter points, including a three-pointer at the buzzer, as the Pioneers led 46-37 to begin the final period. The Dolphins used a 14-5 burst tie things up late in the fourth, 51-51. Clinging to a 55-54 edge with under a minute left, William Paterson knocked down four straight from the charity stripe to come away with the season-opening victory.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Giordano dished out a career-best seven assists to go along with four steals.
- Freshman forward Allison McBride (Ringwood, N.J./Lakeland Regional) opened her collegiate career by scoring 12 points and pulling down six rebounds. Freshman guard Yakira Rosa (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) finished with 10 points and a team-best five steals, while classmate Madison Dulude (Sewell, N.J./Washington Twp.) added 10 tallies and five boards in 12 minutes of action.
- WP shot 84.2% (16-19) from the free throw line, and held a 31-10 margin in bench scoring.
UP NEXT:
- WP squares off against host York College (Pa.) in the opening round of the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic Friday, Nov. 15, at 5:30 p.m.
FOLLOW THE PIONEERS: