Mahwah, NJ: The Ramapo College women's basketball team extended their win streak to six games with a 59-49 win over William Paterson University tonight at the Bradley Center. The Roadrunners move to 9-6 overall and 6-2 in the NJAC while the Pioneers drop to 4-11 overall and 2-6 in the conference.
The two teams each scored eight points in the first quarter before Ramapo outscored the Pioneers in the next three. In the second quarter,
Jackie Ventricelli opened the quarter with a three-pointer and jumper back-to-back to take a five point lead, 13-8, before Renee Wells sank a three for the Pioneers, 11-13. WPU tied the game twice down the stretch, the final time with 41 seconds left as Brianna Smith scored a layup to tie the score at 22.
Olivia Johnstone hit a key three-pointer to take a three-point lead into the locker room, 25-22.
A 12-3 run to open the third quarter by the Roadrunners capped off by a three-pointer from Johnstone gave Ramapo a 12 point lead, 37-25. WPU would cut the lead once again before
Reilly Sheeley made a layup to put Ramapo up 43-32 with 1:37 on the clock. Two sets of free throws from Luna Kirby shrunk the Roadrunners lead to seven, 43-36, to wrap up the third quarter. An 8-4 run from WPU shrunk the Ramapo lead to three with a three-pointer from Jade Martinez with 8:19 left to play in the game. Following a Ramapo timeout, Ventricelli tallied a jumper in the paint which started a 10-0 run as the Roadrunners saw themselves with a 57-44 lead with less than five to play. Victoria Palladino snapped the scoreless run with a layup from WPU before
Jada Thompson scored one of her own with 49 seconds remaining, 59-46. The final points of the game were scored by WPU with a free throw and last second basket as Ramapo came away with the ten point victory, 59-49.
Thompson tallied her sixth double-double of the season and third straight with 16 points and ten rebounds. Johnstone connected on four three-pointers in the game for 14 points, four rebounds and two blocks. Ventricelli recorded 11 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals while
Shannon Burns led the way with four blocks. Burns also contributed with eight rebounds and eight points. The team shot 34% (23-66) from the floor, 33% (5-15) from the three-point line and 66% (8-12) from the free throw line for the game. Ramapo tallied 32 points in the paint and 22 points off turnovers.
WPU were led by Wells with 12 points while Smith added ten points and two steals. Mattison Chiera tallied nine points and five rebounds while Patricia Walsh led the team with ten rebounds. The Pioneers shot 25% (14-55) from the floor, 23% (3-13) from the three-point line and 78% (18-23) from the free throw line.
The Roadrunners return to action on the road on Saturday afternoon at the College of New Jersey for a 1:00 PM NJAC game.
