BOX SCORE
GAME NOTES/PROGRAM
JERSEY CITY, NJ (www.NJCUGothicKnights.com)...Nationally-ranked William Paterson University was limited to its second lowest field goal percentage of the season, but overcame a 28.8 percent shooting night with a +18 rebounding margin, as the Pioneers never trailed and defeated New Jersey City University, 60-47, in a New Jersey Athletic Conference women's basketball game on Wednesday night on “Coach Charlie Brown Court” at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center.
WPU, ranked No. 8 nationally by the Women's Basketball Coaches Association (WBCA) and No. 9 by D3hoops.com, wins its fifth straight to improve to 19-1 and 7-1 in the NJAC, leading the way in the NJAC North Division. NJCU falls to 4-13, 2-6 NJAC. WPU leads the all-time series, 47-9, and has won the last 15 meetings since 2001-02.
With Ramapo's win over Rutgers-Newark, NJCU is tied with both of those schools at 2-6 in the league for the final playoff berth in the NJAC North Division, with five conference games remaining.
The Pioneers, who have only lost to NJAC rival Kean University, which is #3/4 nationally and unbeaten against Division III schools, out-rebounded NJCU 61-43, including 29-13 on the offensive glass, and held an 18-4 advantage in points off NJCU's 22 turnovers.
NJCU was able to frustrate the Pioneers defensively. WPU shot just 28.8 percent overall on 21-of-73 shooting, and 2-of-11 from three-point range (.182). The only time WPU has been held further in check was 27.9 percent (17-61) at Mount Saint Mary College on December 21.
Meanwhile, NJCU became only the third team this year to limit WPU to 60 or fewer points. The Pioneers scored 49 against MSMC and 59 in a 59-40 win at Widener University.
However, NJCU, the league leader in steals at 15.69 per night, was limited to a season-low three picks. The previous low was eight; the Knights had reached double figures in the category in 14 of the first 16 games.
For WPU, sophomore guard BriAnna Lucas (Hamilton, NJ/Nottingham) led all scorers, dropping in 15 points (5-10 FG, 2-4 3FG, 3-5 FT), adding two steals in 30 minutes.
Senior guard Erin Cook (Princeton, NJ/Princeton) had a double-double, with a game-high 15 rebounds (eight defensive) and 11 points (4-10 FG), adding three steals. Sophomore forward Danielle Sindorf (Burlington, NJ/Burlington Twp.) had seven points and seven rebounds, with three steals. Senior guard Julie Haledjian (Montvale, NJ/Pascack Hills) hit for six points and dished four assists and three steals. Overall, each of the 11 players on the Pioneers bench scored in the victory.
For NJCU, freshman point guard ASHLEY FREEMAN (Paterson, NJ/Passaic Tech) led the way with 12 points, connecting for 4-of-8 three-point accuracy. Sophomore guard/forward EBONY CUNNINGHAM (East Orange, NJ/East Orange Campus) notched a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds (seven defensive).
Freshman forward MAXINE KAMINSKI (Kearny, NJ/Kearny) tied her career high with 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting, adding four rebounds. Freshman forward LINDIA FISCHER (Bayonne, NJ/Bayonne) grabbed eight rebounds (six defensive), and had five points and three blocks, but fouled out after playing just 24 minutes. Freshman point guard LATIFAH JOHNSON (Newark, NJ/University) contributed six points, with five assists and four rebounds.
The Pioneers jumped ahead with a 7-0 run in the first 5:42, behind five points from Lucas and never trailed. It was a seven-point game with 5:40 left in the half, 19-12, before WPU put the game seemingly out of reach with a 9-2 spurt to close the half, heading to the locker room ahead by 14, 28-14.
In the second half, WPU increased its lead to as many as 18, including 36-18 on a Sindorf basket. NJCU was able to shave the deficit to nine, 43-34, with 7:58 to go on a Kaminski offensive rebound and putback. The Pioneers pushed the margin back to 17, 54-37, with 4:51 to go, on a jumper by Haledjian. NJCU attempted to rally as Freeman sank back-to-back three-pointers in a span of 25 seconds, and Kaminski again cut it to nine, 54-45, with 2:29 left, but the Knights weren't able to draw any closer.
NJCU will next visit #3/4 ranked Kean University in an NJAC game on Saturday, January 30 at 1 p.m. in Union, NJ. WPU visits Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ at 3 p.m. that day.
—www.njcugothicknights.com—
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Team Stat Comparison
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NJCU
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WPU
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Score
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47
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60
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Half-Time Score
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14
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28
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Field Goal Percentage
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.322(19-59)
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.288 (21-73)
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Three-Point Percentage
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.278 (5-18)
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.182 (2-11)
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Free Throw Percentage
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.364 (4-11)
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.571 (16-28)
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Rebounds (O-D-T)
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13-30-43
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29-32-61
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Assists
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12
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8
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Turnovers
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22
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16
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Blocks
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5
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7
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Steals
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3
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14
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Fouls
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19
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15
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Largest Lead
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None
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18
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Points in the Paint
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24
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32
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Points off Turnovers
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4
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18
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Second Chance Points
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6
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12
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Fast Break Points
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4
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13
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Bench Points
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11
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16
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