WAYNE, N.J. (NJCUGothicKnights.com) | William Paterson University outscored the New Jersey City University women's basketball team, 29-7 in the first quarter and NJCU couldn't draw closer than 11 the remainder of the evening in an 88-54 loss to the Pioneers in a New Jersey Athletic Conference game on November 30 at the WP Rec Center. William Paterson shot 63 percent (17-27) in the second half.
 
WP (4-2, 2-0 NJAC) scored the first 12 points of the game and led 15-1 and 19-3. NJCU (3-3, 0-2 NJAC) got within 38-27 at halftime and 50-39 midway through third quarter before the host Pioneers scored the next 14 points to elevate the lead to 25 in the waning moments of the third quarter. The final 34-point margin for WP matched its largest lead of the game.
 
William Paterson shot 50 percent overall for the game (32-64) but when you take away a putrid 3-of-16 second quarter, actually were far more accurate. WP hit 57.1 percent of its shots in the first quarter (12-21), were a sizzling 64.3 percent in the third quarter (9-14) and 61.5 percent in the fourth (8-13).
 
The host Pioneers had four players reach double figures, led by Julie Rovito who had 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting with five assists in 18 minutes.
 
For NJCU in its first road conference game of the season, NJAC steals leader and junior guard Aaliyah Saud (Willingboro, N.J./Willingboro) scored in double figures for the sixth consecutive outing to begin her NJCU career and for the first time was the top Gothic Knight scorer, finishing with 15 points, with three three-pointers and four assists.
 
Two-time NJAC Rookie of the Week and freshman point guard Tu'ziah Hall (Greenville, N.C./Bannecker (NC)) struggled from the field, scoring most of her eight points at the line. (6-10 FT). But she found herself in foul trouble, fouling out in 24 minutes of action. It was the first time she has not been NJCU's top scorer.
 
In 24 minutes of action, freshman forward Atonie Johnson (Irvington, N.J./Irvington) had eight rebounds and seven points in 23 minutes while senior guard Kiana Briggs (Paterson, N.J./Passaic County Tech) scored eight points.
 
Also for William Paterson, Gabby Harris had 14 points (5-9 FG) in 20 minutes while Kristina Ulrich (3-5 FG) and Tori Woetzel (4-6 FG) each tallied 10 points while Woetzel added seven rebounds. Janea Clark finished with 11 rebounds and added eight points (4-6 FG) and three steals. Jackie Rodriguez hit 3-of-6 from three-point range and chipped in nine points. Ashley Castillo collected seven points and five steals in 19 reserve minutes.
 
The Pioneers only had two fewer turnovers than NJCU but managed a 29-13 advantage in points off giveaways. The Pioneers scored 46 points in the paint.
 
OF NOTE:

• Series: 70th meeting. WP leads all-time series, 59-11.

 
WHAT'S NEXT?:
NJCU is back at home on Saturday, December 3 at 1 p.m. when it hosts Rutgers-Camden (4-1, 1-1 NJAC) in an NJAC contest at the John J. Moore Athletics and Fitness Center (Charlie Brown Court). It will be the 58th meeting in a series, Camden leads, 33-24.