New Jersey City University Athletics

Box Score BOX SCORE

WAYNE, NJ (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | No. 6/6 ranked William Paterson University demonstrated why the New Jersey Athletic Conference North Division regular season champions are a national championship contender this season, as the Pioneers outscored New Jersey City University 54-18 in the second half and cruised to a 94-38 victory in an NJAC women's basketball contest on Saturday afternoon at the WPU Rec Center.
 
On Senior Day in Wayne, the Pioneers, ranked sixth nationally in both the USA Today/ESPN Division III Top 25 Coaches' Poll and D3hoops.com Top 25 Poll, won their eighth straight and improved to 23-1 and 12-1 in the league. WPU won for the 20^th consecutive meeting against NJCU (4-20, 0-12 NJAC) since the 2001-02 season and leads the all-time series, 52-9.
 
The Pioneers led 27-18 with 7:16 left in the first half before scoring  67 of the final 87 points of the game—mostly behind its bench which contributed nearly half the points on the day (45). Only two Pioneers played more than 21 minutes.
 
William Paterson outscored NJCU in the paint, 62-14 and owned a dominant 62-22 margin on the glass, including a 29-9 differential on the offensive boards, which the hosts converted into a 39-9 advantage in second chance points. WPU also turned 17 Gothic Knight turnovers into a 22-6 edge in points off giveaways.
 
For William Paterson, two-time First-Team All-NJAC selection and senior forward April Smith (Barnegat, NJ/Southern Regional) recorded her NCAA Division III leading 20^th double-double of the season, finishing with  game highs of 28 points (12-18 FG) and 16 rebounds with three blocks in just 27 minutes of play.  
 
Senior guard BriAnna Lucas (Hamilton, NJ/Nottingham), the 2010-11 NJAC co-Player of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, finished the game with 14 points (6-12 FG), seven rebounds and four assists in 30 minutes.
 
Also for WPU, sophomore guard Floriana Borova (Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill) added 14 points (5-9 FG), including 3-of-6 from three-point distance, with four assists in 19 minutes and sophomore forward Dana Jeter (Hamilton, NJ/Steinert) added seven points, seven rebounds (six defensive), seven assists and two blocks in 21  minutes.
 
Sophomore forward Jewell Palmer (Woodbridge, NJ/Woodbridge) had 10 points (4-6 FG) in eight minutes. WPU had 13 players see action, with 12 scoring at least one field goal and all 13 had a rebound.
 
In defeat, NJCU was led by MAXINE KAMINSKI (Kearny, NJ/Kearny), who finished with a team-high 12 points (5-15 FG, 2-6 3FG). Sophomore forward ALNISA HERNAIZ (Irvington, NJ/Irvington) had eight points and seven boards.
 
NJCU led early, 9-4 on a Kaminski three before a 15-0 run by the Pioneers put the hosts in front, 19-9, with 11:43 remaining. After NJCU scored to make it 27-18 later in the period, the Pioneers chalked up the next 13 points and led comfortably at halftime, 40-20.
 
After a quick three by Kaminski to start the second period made it 40-23, WPU countered with 14 straight points and 22 of the next 24 markers to claim a 62-25 cushion with 13:11 remaining. The Pioneers' largest lead was 59 in the final minute.
 
The Pioneers shot 52 percent overall (39-75), including 55.0 percent in the second half (22-40). The Knights made 40.9 percent of its first half attempts (9-22) before struggling in the second half, converting just 8-of-34 (.235). NJCU shot five foul shots in the game, making one.
 
NJCU will conclude the 2011-12 season on Wednesday, February 15 at 6 p.m. when it hosts Rutgers-Newark at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center. The Knights do not have a senior on the roster.