GLASSBORO, NJ – William Paterson rallied in the final four minutes to force overtime and defeat Rowan, 90-84, in NJAC women's basketball action today at Esby Gym. The loss ruined a season-high 22 point-effort by the Profs' Nicole Mallard.

William Paterson's Brianna Smith scored a game-high 36 points and hit the game-tying three-pointer with 14 seconds remaining in regulation, capping a 19-1 Pioneer run over the final 3:35 that erased a 76-60 Rowan lead. 

Mallard connected on 8-of-13 from the field to lead the Profs, which got 12 points from Grace Marshall on 5-for-9 shooting, and 11 points from Eliana Santana. Ny'emah Middleton sored 10, as did Dakota Adams while Ayanna Johnson grabbed a game-high 11 rebounds. 

In the overtime, WPU (5-2; 2-1)  closed out the win by hitting 4-of-4 free throws in the final 1:50 and sealing it with a layup by Yakira Rosa with 1:00 to play. 

Leading 58-49 early in the fourth quarter, Rowan built up a 16-point lead, 65-49 on a 7-0 run, helped by a three-pointer from Mallard. The Profs took their biggest margin of the game, 76-58, on a layup from Kristina Johnson at 4:13, but Rowan would manage only one point the rest of regulation. 

 The Profs broke open the game in the third quarter, starting with a 15-7 run in the first six minutes, which included a three from Middleton to take a 54-41 lead. The Profs maintained the lead throughout, and held a 58-46 advantage at the end of the period. 

Rowan came out strong in the first quarter, hitting 50 percent from the field to take a 24-17 lead. William Paterson outscored the Profs, 17-15, in the second quarter as the Pioneers went 8-for-10 from the foul line to come within, 39-34, at halftime.

WPU connected on 57.1 percent (12-for-21) from the field in the final quarter with Rowan going just 6-for-13.

The Profs are back in action on Wednesday, December 7 at Rutgers-Camden and return home for a meeting with Ramapo on Saturday, December 10 at 3 p.m.