WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson women's basketball team made it a perfect 10-0 to start the season with a 70-57 defeat of visiting Marywood (5-4) Dec. 17.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED:

• The Pioneers knocked down 10 of their 19 (.526) field-goal attempts during the game's first 10 minutes, opening up a 13-point first-quarter lead (25-12, 1:14).
• The Pacers were able to get back into the game during the second quarter, helped by a 9-for-9 effort from the free-throw line while WP shot just 22.2 (4-for-18) percent from the field and was never awarded a trip to the charity stripe. Marywood built a 32-29 edge (0:59), but a three-pointer from senior guard Luna Kirby (Leola, Pa./Linden Hall School for Girls) and a buzzer-beating layup by senior forward Renee Wells (Leonardo, N.J./Middletown South) allowed William Paterson to enter halftime with a 34-32 advantage.
• WP stormed out of the locker room with 11 unanswered points, surging to a 45-32 lead just 2:27 into the third quarter. The Pioneers' advantage never dipped below seven for the remainder of the contest.

 
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• Senior forward Patty Walsh (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North) posted her second double-double of the season with 19 points and 10 rebounds, while junior guard Jada Jacobs (Mount Laurel, N.J./Medford Tech) added four assists to her season-high 18 tallies and nine boards.
• Kirby notched her second-consecutive 10-point outing.
• WP's defense created a 23-11 turnover margin, resulting in a 26-6 advantage in points scored off the miscues.
• The Pioneers are off to their best start to a season since the 2011-12 campaign when WP was 15-0 on its way to a 26-3 overall record, conference tournament title and NCAA Tournament second-round appearance.
• William Paterson received votes in this week's Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and D3hoops.com Top 25 Polls.

 
UP NEXT:

• William Paterson will enjoy an extended break for the holidays, returning to action at the JHU Women's Basketball Classic Saturday, Jan. 3, against host No. 5/5 Johns Hopkins at 4:00 p.m..

 
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