JERSEY CITY, NJ…William Paterson University led just twice in the first 36 minutes of the game, but received a three-pointer by junior guard Michelle Pellichero (Milltown, NJ/Bishop Ahr) with 2:19 remaining, and a decisive three-point play by senior forward Melissa Moore (East Orange, NJ/North Bergen) with 5.6 seconds left, as the Pioneers survived for a 51-46 win over New Jersey City University, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference North Division game, Wednesday at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.
With the win, WPU (13-2, 4-0 NJAC) wins its 11th consecutive game and for the 13th time in 14 outings. It was the Pioneers’ ninth straight win over the Knights. NJCU, playing its first game since December 21, falls to 3-9 overall and 0-4 in the league, losing seven of eight.
WPU won despite shooting just 26.1 percent from the field (18-69) and 23.5 percent from three-point range (4-17). The Pioneers received a game-high 15 points in 36 minutes from Pellichero, but she shot 6-of-19 from the field and 3-of-10 from deep. She was WPU’s only player in double figures.
Junior forward
TIFFANY BOYD (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln), who ranks No. 2 in Division III in blocked shots, posted her second double-double of the season, finishing with 13 points (4-7 FG), and game-highs of 10 rebounds (seven defensive) and five blocks in 32 minutes.
NJCU senior point guard
LATRESE McNAIR (Elizabeth, NJ/Elizabeth) poured in 12 points (4-14 FG, 2-9 3FG), with eight rebounds and two steals in 37 minutes. The two steals gives her 406 in her career, as she moved into 16
th place in NCAA Division III history in swipes. Now with 992 career points, she is eight shy of becoming the eighth player in school history to join the 1,000-point club.
Also for NJCU, junior forward
ARNESE GOODMAN (Jersey City, NJ/Lincoln) added 12 points (5-14 FG), six rebounds and two blocks.
WPU freshman guard Elisa Brown (Norwalk, CT/Norwalk) had nine rebounds, six points and two blocks. Senior guard Luci Custis (Roselle, NJ/Abraham Clark) chipped in eight points (2-9 FG) and three assists.
NJCU had an early 11-3 lead and two seven-point margin in the first period, and held a 27-25 edge at the intermission. The hosts maintained a seven-point, 39-32 margin with 11:48 remaining off a Goodman jumper, off a Boyd assist, moments after Boyd had an offensive rebound and putback.
A Custis three tied it at 41-41 to cap a 9-2 run with 8:00 left. Goodman drained a three with 5:32 remaining for a 44-41 NJCU advantage, before jumpers by Pellichero (5:08) and Brown (4:20), gave the Pioneers a 45-44 lead—their first since the opening minute of the game.
McNair’s jumper with 3:51 remaining made it 46-45, but that would prove to be NJCU’s final points of the game. Pellichero drained the go-ahead three, before Moore’s driving lay-up and subsequent free-throw capped the game at 51-46.
Both teams shot less than 30 percent from the field and 24 percent from three-point range. WPU made 26.1 percent of its shots (18-69) and 4-of-17 from three-point territory (.235), while NJCU was 16-of-59 (.271) and 4-of-25 from deep (.160). NJCU blocked 10 shots overall in defeat.
NJCU will return to action on Saturday, January 13 with an NJAC game at 3 p.m. against Montclair State University in Montclair, NJ. WPU hosts Ramapo College on Saturday at 1 p.m.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
|
Team Stat Comparison |
|
|
NJCU |
WPU |
|
Score |
46 |
51 |
|
Half-Time Score |
27 |
25 |
|
Field Goal Percentage |
.271 (16-59) |
.261 (18-69) |
|
Three-Point Percentage |
.160 (4-25) |
.235 (4-17) |
|
Free Throw Percentage |
.769 (10-13) |
.688 (11-16) |
|
Rebounds (O-D-T) |
15-31-46 |
20-28-48 |
|
Assists |
12 |
10 |
|
Turnovers |
17 |
13 |
|
Blocks |
10 |
4 |
|
Steals |
4 |
9 |
|
Fouls |
16 |
19 |
|
Largest Lead |
8 |
5 |
|
Points in the Paint |
18 |
18 |
|
Points off Turnovers |
11 |
10 |
|
Second Change Points |
7 |
9 |
|
Fast Break Points |
4 |
8 |
|
Bench Points |
27 |
19 |
