Wayne, NJ: For the second time in three days, No. 20/21 William Paterson (22-3, 11-2 NJAC) had to work hard to get past Ramapo (15-10, 5-8 NJAC), this time for a 52-43 victory in the regular-season finale for both schools Feb. 16.

William Paterson won the New Jersey Athletic Conference's North Division, earning a first-round bye for the upcoming NJAC Tournament. The Pioneers will host a semifinal game Wednesday, Feb. 23, at 7:00 p.m. against the winner of the Richard Stockton/Montclair State first-round game to be played Feb. 19.

Junior guard BriAnna Lucas (Hamilton, N.J./Nottingham) led all players with 21 points and four steals, adding six rebounds and three assists for the Pioneers. Sophomore forward Tatiana Javis (Newark, N.J./ Bloomfield Tech) registered a game-best 12 rebounds, and junior forward April Smith (Barnegat, N.J./Southern Regional) added 10 points.

After WP earned a hard-fought 60-55 win at Ramapo Feb. 14, the two teams met again with the Roadrunners needing a victory on the season's final night to secure a bid to the NJAC Tournament. The two teams combined to miss the first seven shots of the contest and turned it over three times during the first 2:43, a string finally broken by a pair of Lindsey Callander (Branchburg, N.J./Somerville) free throws. Eight ties and four lead changes marked the game's first 20 minutes, but a late Lucas three-pointer off an inbounds play during the final 10 seconds allowed the Pioneers to take a 28-23 lead into halftime.

William Paterson's lead stretched to seven to start the second period, but a mini 6-0 Roadrunner spurt made it a 34-33 contest with 13:59 to play. Neither team found the bottom of the net for the next 3:28, but Smith drained a three-pointer to make it a two-possession game at 37-33 with 10:31 on the clock.

Ramapo would again trim the lead to one, this time 40-39 after an Alexa Ryan (Hazlet, N.J./Raritan) layup with 5:06 to play, but a Floriana Borova (Cresskill, N.J./Cresskill) jumper ignited a 12-4 WP run to finish the contest.

Freshman Brittany Howes (Freehold, N.J./Colts Neck) led Ramapo with 10 points, senior Danielle Beam (Middletown, N.J./Middletown North) had nine tallies and nine rebounds, and Ryan finished with six boards and four assists.

The Roadrunners will now wait to see if they earn a possible ECAC Tournament bid.