MONTCLAIR, N.J. – Despite a career night from junior
Jade Martinez (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park), the William Paterson women's basketball team (2-6, 1-3 NJAC) was defeated on the road, 82-77, in double overtime by Montclair State (5-4, 3-1 NJAC) Dec. 6.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
- Both sides battled back and forth for the entirety of regulation and a made jumper by sophomore Patricia Walsh (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North) with 42 seconds remaining in the game gave the Pioneers a 67-65 advantage. However, as time was expiring, the Red Hawks forced overtime with a layup at the buzzer.
- Neither team was able to generate much offense in the opening portion of the first overtime period as the two sides combined for just two points in 2:43 of action. It was a tie game (69-69) with 1:53 on the clock before Montclair State took a 71-69 lead. The Pioneers evened the score back up after Martinez knocked down a pair of foul shots with 1:36 remaining.
- With less than a second left on the clock, the Red Hawks scored from inside the paint to regain the lead (73-71). Looking for a desperation heave, the Pioneers inbounded the ball to sophomore Renee Wells (Leonardo, N.J./Middletown South) and she was inadvertently fouled before being able to get a shot off. The sophomore went to charity stripe with the game on the line and converted both free throws to force double overtime.
- In the second overtime period, the Red Hawks quickly grabbed a four-point advantage (77-73) with 4:08 on the clock. Freshman Mattison Chiera (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) knocked down a jumper to trim the deficit to two before senior Brianna Smith (Hillsdale, N.J./Pascack Valley) connected on a pair of foul shots to knot the score up at 77-77 with 2:23 left to play.
- Montclair State retook the lead with a layup on its ensuing possession and the Pioneers were held scoreless the rest of the way as the Red Hawks earned the 82-77 conference victory.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
- Martinez scored a career-high 23 points on 6-of-10 (.600) shooting.
- The junior additionally shot 3-for-3 (1.000) from deep and 8-for-8 (1.000) from the foul line.
- Smith logged 15 in the scoring column to go with four assists and three steals.
- Junior Esmeralda Ruiz (Kearny, N.J./Kearny) chipped in with a career-best nine points, a team-high five assists and four rebounds off the bench.
- Walsh reeled in a game-high 14 boards.
UP NEXT:
- William Paterson returns to the Sports and Recreation Center Saturday, Dec. 9, for a 1:00 p.m. NJAC game against Stockton.
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