EWING, N.J. – Junior guard
Brianna Brooks (Saddle Brook, N.J./Saddle Brook) registered a double-double of 18 points and 19 rebounds, but the William Paterson women's basketball team (11-15, 9-9 NJAC) dropped its New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament opener to The College of New Jersey, 67-59, in overtime Feb. 22.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Trailing 14-12 after 10 minutes, WP knocked down 6-of-11 (.545) of its attempts in the second quarter while holding TCNJ to just two field goals as the Pioneers outscored the Lions 13-5 in the frame and took a 25-19 lead into the break.
- The Lions' offense began to take form in the third period as the hosts connected on 41.2 (7-17) percent of their shots to level the score at 39-39, heading into the final stanza.
- With TCNJ in front 52-50 at the 4:06 mark of the fourth, freshman guard Yakira Rosa's (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) driving layup capped off a 6-0 run as the Pioneers moved in front, 56-52, with 2:03 left on the clock. After TCNJ leveled the score at 57-57 with 12 seconds left, WP had a chance to win it at the buzzer, but freshman forward Allison McBride's (Ringwood, N.J./Lakeland Regional) layup would not fall as the game went into overtime.
- In overtime, TCNJ went 8-for-11 (.727) from the charity stripe while limiting WP to just two free throws over five minutes to come away with the win, 67-59.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Brooks tied her career-high with 18 points, while her 19 rebounds (six offensive) set a new personal best.
- Rosa concluded her freshman campaign by pouring in 15 tallies on 5-of-6 (.833) shooting, her sixth double-digit scoring output of the season.
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