WAYNE, NJ…William Paterson University opened up a 15-6 first-half lead and never trailed as the Pioneers led by as many as 29 and cruised past New Jersey City University, 69-45, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game at the WPU Rec Center.
The Pioneers improve to 9-6 overall and 5-3 in the NJAC. For the Gothic Knights (6-7, 2-6 NJAC), the loss marks the fifth consecutive time NJCU has followed a victory with a loss. WPU has won the last seven meetings in the series since NJCU swept both meetings during the 2001-02 season.
In defeat, sophomore forward
ARNESE GOODMAN (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) scored a game-high 15 points, shooting 4-of-8 from the field and 7-of-8 at the line. Sophomore shooting guard
ELIZABETH AMADEO (Bayonne, NJ/Marist) scored a career-high 12 points on 5-of-11 in 31 reserve minutes. Junior point guard
LATRESE McNAIR (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth), finished with six points and four assists in a full 40 minutes.
The Pioneers had four players reach double figures, led by sophomore guard Janell Fabor (Clifton, NJ/Paterson Catholic) with 15 points (7-14 FG), six rebounds, five steals, and four assists. Junior guard Luci Custis (Roselle, NJ/Abraham Clark) poured in 13 points (5-9 FG).
Also for WPU, freshman forward Asia Johnson (Wildwood, NJ/Wildwood) chipped in 10 points (4-6) and seven rebounds in 17 minutes, while sophomore guard Michelle Pellichero (Milltown, NJ/Bishop Ahr) had 10 points and three assists.
WPU extended its first half lead, and moved ahead 27-12 at the 8:42 mark after a lay-up by Johnson, including eight straight to cap the outburst. Custis poured in seven of her 11 first-half points and Fabor added six of her 10 as the Pioneers coerced the Gothic Knights into nine turnovers during that stretch, before heading to the break up 39-24.
NJCU twice pulled within 14 in the second half, including 47-33 at 13:54, before the Pioneers scored the next 11 straight to put the game away with a 25-point, 58-33 advantage.
WPU shot 47.4 percent (27-54) and 11-of-14 at the line (78.6%), and out-rebounded the Knights, 41-23. NJCU was terrific at the line (9-10, 90.0%), but shot just 17-of-49 at the line (34.7%) and 2-of-12 (.167) from long-range.
NJCU will return to action on Wednesday, January 18 at 6 p.m. when it hosts The College of New Jersey in a New Jersey Athletic Conference at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
