Box Score

WAYNE, NJ – Guards Michelle Pellichero and Lucila Custis scored 22 and 21 points respectively to lead William Paterson University over Rowan University, 67-59 in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Saturday.

Pellichero (jr. Milltown, NJ/Bishop Ahr) also recorded five assists and four steals. Custis (sr. Roselle, NJ/Abraham Clark) led the Pioneers on the boards with seven rebounds. Guard Elisa Brown (fr. Norwalk, CT/Norwalk) contributed with 10 points and six rebounds.

For Rowan, guard Brynn DeGroff (so. Wildwood Crest, NJ/Wildwood) totaled a career high 16 points. DeGroff also compiled five assists. Forward Lauren Byrne (sr. Paulsboro, NJ/Gloucester Catholic) had 12 points and 10 rebounds. Guard Kristina Wallace (jr. Logan Twp., NJ/Clearview Reg.) dished six assists.

William Paterson has an overall record of 5-2 while Rowan is 3-3 on the season. It was the first conference game for both teams.

The Pioneers outscored the Profs, 39-24 in the second half after trailing by seven points at the intermission. William Paterson forward Stephanie Summers (so. Atlantic City, NJ/Atlantic City) hit a basket that tied the score at 37 with 16:15 remaining. Summers followed with a layup (15:48) for a 39-37 advantage. Wallace’s three-pointer put the Profs up by one (40-39) at 15:27. The Pioneers took back the lead with a layup by Custis (15:02). There were four lead changes before Byrne had a layup that tied the score at 49. William Paterson scored nine straight points to lead 58-49 with 4:08 left. Custis made seven of the nine points.

Rowan pulled within five points (58-53) after Byrne’s basket (2:34). The Pioneers’ biggest advantage was 10 points (67-57) after a three-pointer by Brown (0:19). Custis scored 12 points in the second half and Pellichero had 10.

In the first half, the score was tied three times in the first eight minutes. The last tie was at 13 after Byrne’s basket. DeGroff made a layup at 11:07 that gave Rowan the lead (15-13). The Profs did not trail for the remainder of the period. The Pioneers came within one point (23-22) after a three by Pellichero at 5:44. The Profs had a 10-1 run in less than four minutes to go back up by 10 points (33-23). At the end of the stanza, Rowan was ahead 35-28. DeGroff scored 11 first half points.

Rowan plays at home on Monday, December 4 against Lebanon Valley College at 7 p.m.