WAYNE, N.J. – The William Paterson women's basketball team (20-8, 14-4 NJAC) secured an 81-63 win against Baruch (14-12, 11-3 CUNYAC) in the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Tournament Quarterfinals March 8 at the Sports and Recreation Center.

HOW IT HAPPENED:

• Baruch won the tip and scored on the opening possession before the Pioneers outscored the Bearcats, 25-11, to grab a double-digit lead (25-13) at the end of the first quarter. 
• WP extended its advantage to 22 (50-28) at the half after shooting 8-for-15 (.533) from the field in the second frame. 
• A 15-7 run capped by a jumper from sophomore Jada Jacobs (Mount Laurel, N.J./Medford Tech) with 1:28 remaining in the third quarter allowed the Pioneers to grab their largest lead of the afternoon (65-35).
• The Bearcats shot 9-of-12 (.750) from the field as a team to piece together a 22-8 run in the fourth quarter and pull to within 14 (73-59) with 3:15 on the clock.
• That was as close as Baruch would get as WP held on to earn the 81-63 win.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS:

• William Paterson posted its first 20-win season since the 2012-13 campaign.
• Junior Renee Wells (Leonardo, N.J./Middletown South) became the 25th Pioneer in program history to record 1,000 career points.
• She finished the day with a team-high 21 points, adding nine rebounds, three steals and a block.
• Graduate student Brianna Smith (Hillsdale, N.J./Pascack Valley) had 16 points on 5-of-9 (.556) shooting with five boards, four assists and two steals.
• Junior Patty Walsh (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North) recorded a double-double after scoring 11 points and reeling in a game-high 13 boards.
• Sophomore Mattison Chiera (Colonia, N.J./Colonia) totaled 10 points, four rebounds, three assists and a block.
• Senior Jade Martinez (Ridgefield Park, N.J./Ridgefield Park) finished with nine points.  

UP NEXT:

• William Paterson will host Hunter in the ECAC Tournament Semifinals Sunday, March 9, at 1:00 p.m.

 
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