Box Score

GLASSBORO, NJ – The William Paterson University women’s basketball team held on to defeat Rowan University, 70-67 in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Saturday.

The Pioneers, ranked eighth in this week’s Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Top 25 Poll, improve to 20-1 overall and 8-1 in the conference. The Profs have a 12-7 overall record with a 6-3 NJAC mark.

William Paterson was led by guard BriAnna Lucas (so. Hamilton, NJ/Nottingham) with 27 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals. Guards Erin Cook (sr. Princeton, NJ/Princeton) and Elisa Brown (sr. Norwalk, CT/Norwalk) posted 14 and 13 points respectively. They both pulled down eight rebounds. Guard Julie Haledjian (sr. Montvale, NJ/Pascack Hills) was also in double figures with 10 points.

For Rowan, forward Amanda Jennings (sr. Turnersville, NJ/Washington Twp.) registered career-highs with 33 points and 22 rebounds. Forward Michelle Lala (sr. Wayne, NJ/Wayne Hills) and guard Gina Catanzariti (jr. Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) each totaled 12 points and five rebounds.

Cook’s jumper at 18:06 in the second period tied the game at 38. Rowan went on a 10-4 run that ended at 14:37 to go up by seven (48-41). William Paterson had the next six points to come within one (48-47) at 12:49. Cook scored five of the six points. After a layup by Jennings (11:09), Lucas sunk a three-pointer (10:50) that tied the game at 50. Lucas converted two free throws at 4:20 to give the Pioneers a one point advantage (60-59).

Guard Lindsey Callander’s (fr. Branchburg, NJ/Somerville) layup at 3:48 made the score, 62-59. Jennings nailed two foul shots (3:35) and a jumper (2:25) to put Rowan on top by one (63-62). William Paterson scored six straight points to take a 68-63 lead with 44 seconds left. Brown and Haledjian each made two free throws and forward Stephanie Summers (sr. Atlantic City, NJ/Atlantic City) added a layup. Two foul shots by Lamey (00:40) and a layup by Catanzariti (00:23) cut the deficit to one (68-67). Brown made two free throws with 13 seconds on the clock to seal the victory.

In the first period, Rowan led 4-3 following a jumper by Lala at 18:57. William Paterson went on a 15-4 run to go up by 10 (18-8) at 14:40. Cook scored seven points, Lucas added five and Brown nailed a three-pointer. Rowan scored the next nine points to trail by one (18-17) at 11:44. Lala posted four points, Jennings contributed with three and guard Alissa Lamey (so. Northfield, NJ/Mainland Reg.) had a basket. Lucas sunk two free throws at 8:16 to give the Pioneers a four point advantage (25-21). Jennings had back-to-back layups at 7:29 and 6:52 to tie the game at 25. Lucas hit a three-pointer at 5:28 to make the score, 28-25.

Profs’ guard Ashley Russo (fr. Lawrenceville, NJ/Lawrence) had a layup (3:52) and Jennings converted a three-point play (3:12) to give Rowan the lead, 30-28. Haledjian’s three-pointer at 1:59 put William Paterson back on top, 31-30. Lala had a jumper (1:10) and two free throws (00:37) to put Rowan ahead, 34-31 at the intermission. Jennings totaled 20 points and eight rebounds in the first half. Lala added 10 points, while Lucas had 13 for the Pioneers.

Rowan hosts Salisbury University on Monday, February 1 at 7 p.m.