Box Score

WAYNE, NJ – The William Paterson University women’s basketball team defeated Rowan University, 75-54 in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Saturday.

William Paterson improves to 5-2 overall and 1-0 in the conference. Rowan has a 3-3 record with a 1-1 NJAC mark.

The Pioneers were led by forward April Smith (so. Barnegat, NJ/Southern Reg.) with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Forward Jillian Kane (jr. Ridgefield Park, NJ/Ridgefield Park) added 19 points off the bench. Guard Julie Haledjian (jr. Montvale, NJ/Pascack Hills) chipped in with eight points and five assists. Guard Erin Cook (jr. Princeton, NJ/Princeton) compiled seven points and nine boards. Guards Elisa Brown (jr. Norwalk, CT/Norwalk) and BriAnna Lucas (fr. Hamilton, NJ/Nottingham) both contributed with seven points.

For the Profs, forward Jessica Nimbley (jr. Middletown, NJ/St. John Vianney) totaled 13 points and eight rebounds. Forward Ashley Cieplicki (sr. Haworth, NJ/Dumont) and guard Gina Catanzariti (so. Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) each scored 11 points. Cieplicki also grabbed six rebounds.

The score was tied three times in the first half. The last one was at 13 with 9:03 on the clock. William Paterson went on an 11-3 run to lead by eight (24-16) at 5:26. Kane totaled six of the 11 points. Smith’s layup at 3:31 extended the Pioneers’ advantage to 11 points (29-18). Nimbley closed out the half with two free throws (:15) to make the score 34-26 at the intermission. Smith recorded eight points and eight boards in the first half. Cook added seven points and nine rebounds. For Rowan, Nimbley had nine points.

In the second period, Haledjian’s three-pointer at 16:37 put the Pioneers ahead 42-32. Cieplicki sunk two free throws at 12:41 to cut the deficit to eight (46-38). William Paterson had a 13-4 surge over the next four minutes to go up by 17 points (59-42). Kane tallied seven points in the stretch. Lucas’ three-point play with 29 seconds remaining gave the Pioneers their largest lead, 21 points (75-54).

Rowan hosts John Jay College on Monday, December 8 at 7 p.m.