WAYNE, N.J. – Four Pioneers scored in double figures as the William Paterson women's basketball team (4-2, 1-1 NJAC) downed the two-time defending New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) champs, New Jersey City (1-3, 1-1 NJAC), 71-51 on Nov. 30.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- It was a one-point game (26-25) in favor of the Pioneers with 2:54 left in the second quarter when senior Justina Cabezas (Carlstadt, N.J./Becton Regional) buried a jumper to spark a 9-2 run to close out the half.
- William Paterson extended its advantage to double figures (43-29) after eight unanswered points with 8:46 on the clock in the third quarter, highlighted by a pair of 3-pointers from sophomore Jade Martinez (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park) and freshman Renee Wells (Leonardo, N.J./Middletown South).
- The Gothic Knights trimmed the deficit to eight, 55-47, with 6:47 remaining in the game, but the Pioneers shot 60 percent (6-for-10) from the floor the rest of the way en route to securing the 20-point conference home win.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Cabezas poured in a season-high 24 points on 10-of-16 (.625) shooting to pair with a game-high eight rebounds.
- It was her second 20-point effort of the season.
- Wells logged 11 in the scoring column and shot 3-of-4 (.750) from long range to extend her double-digit scoring streak to four games.
- Junior Brianna Smith (Hillsdale, N.J./Pascack Valley) and senior Yakira Rosa (Dumont, N.J./Dumont) each recorded 10 points.
UP NEXT:
- The Pioneers will head to Glassboro, N.J., Saturday to take on Rowan in an NJAC game slated for 1:00 p.m.
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