GLASSBORO, NJ – The Rowan University women's basketball team scored the first five points of overtime to defeat William Paterson University, 96-86 in a New Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) game on Wednesday night.
The Profs rallied from seven points down (66-59) with 4:30 left in the second half, using a 12-2 run to take a 71-68 lead (1:19). Rowan held a 73-70 advantage (0:49) after two free throws by guard
Valerie Garofalo (so. Ventnor, NJ/Holy Spirit). William Paterson guard Brittany Harden (jr. Millville, NJ/Sacred Heart) then nailed a three-pointer, which tied the game (0:21) and sent it into overtime.
Rowan began the overtime session with a triple (4:43) by guard
Jade Bonder (sr. Williamstown, NJ/Williamstown) and a layup (3:54) by Garofalo. The Profs extended the lead to nine points, 87-78 (1:50) after a basket by guard
Anyssa Sanchez (so. Stratford, NJ/Sterling). Guard Sara Luberto's (jr. Midland Park, NJ/Midland Park) layup trimmed the deficit to four points (90-86) at the 35-second mark. The Profs then scored the final six points of the game on a basket by center
Kate Matthews (jr. Clark, NJ/Arthur L. Johnson) and four made free throws by Bonder.
The Profs raise their mark to 11-3 overall and 7-1 in the NJAC. The Pioneers drop to 9-6 with a 5-3 conference mark. Guard
Kaitlin Schullstrom (jr. Colts Neck, NJ/Colts Neck) and Sanchez paced the Profs with 17 points apiece. Bonder added 15 points and Garofalo recorded 10. Forward
Melissa Lake (fr. Marlton, NJ/Cherokee) grabbed eight rebounds.
For William Paterson, Harden led all scorers with 21 points and grabbed seven rebounds. Forward Ashley Marfo (sr. Bergenfield, NJ/Bergenfield) tallied 17 points and 15 rebounds. Forward Mary Haines (jr. Ridgefield Park, NJ/Ridgefield Park) chipped in with 15 points and six boards.
William Paterson opened the game with a 9-2 run for a seven-point lead with 16:59 to play. Marfo produced four points, Harden had three and forward Alex Milne (jr. Howell, NJ/Howell), two. The Pioneers held an 18-9 advantage (13:19) and Rowan scored the next 13 points to go ahead 22-18 (10:18). Sanchez registered six points. The Profs were out in front 26-24 at the 6:58 mark after a layup by Sanchez. William Paterson used a 16-5 spurt to take a 40-31 lead (0:48). Guard Julie Rovito (fr. Ridgefield Park, NJ/Ridgefield Park) contributed with seven points and Marfo had five. Sanchez ended the half with a basket (0:32), cutting the lead to seven points (40-33) at the break. Marfo led all scorers with 13 first half points and Sanchez tallied 10 points.
The Pioneers began the second stanza with a 10-3 run for a 50-36 lead (14:05). Haines and Harden each scored five points. William Paterson led 53-38 with 13:19 on the clock after a three-point play by Haines. The Profs gradually cut into the advantage and got to within one point (60-59) at the 6:22 mark. The Pioneers then made six straight free throws, including two each from Luberto, Harden and Marfo to make the score 66-59 (4:30).
Next, Rowan travels to Rutgers-Newark on Saturday, January 17 for a 6 p.m. contest.
