Wayne, NJ: The William Paterson University women's basketball team secured a 71-42 NJAC conference win tonight over Ramapo College at the Sports & Rec. Center. The Pioneers improve to 14-1 overall and remain undefeated in the NJAC at 8-0 overall. The Roadrunners move to 6-9 overall and 1-7 in the league.
WPU jumped out to an early lead behind a balanced scoring attack and maintained control throughout all four quarters. The Pioneers outpaced the Roadrunners 23-7 in the first quarter and never looked back as they took a 20-point lead into the locker room at halftime, 38-14. In the third, the Pioneers stretched their lead to as much as 28 points late in the quarter on a basket from Mattison Chiera, 57-29.
Emma Cartwright answered with a layup of her own while the Pioneers scored the final point of the quarter on the free throw line, 58-31. Ramapo opened up the final quarter of action with a mini 4-0 run before Renee Wells sank a three-pointer for WPU to extend their lead, 61-35. The Pioneers held a 24+ point lead the remainder of the game to defeat the Roadrunners and remain undefeated in the NJAC.
Wells led the Pioneers with 28 points including five made three-pointers while adding five assists and four steals. Patty Walsh posted 13 points and three blocks while Jada Jacobs led the way with eight rebounds. The team shot 37% (28-75) from the floor, 22% (5-22) from the three-point line and 62% (10-16) from the free throw line. The Pioneers scored 31 points off Ramapo's 25 turnovers.
Vanessa Kohler, who was named NJAC Rookie of the Week, led the Roadrunners with 12 points, five rebounds and one block.
Denay Jones added seven points, five rebounds and three steals while Cartwright and
Angelene Mattingly each contributed with six points. The Roadrunners shot 32% (15-46) from the floor, 16% (1-6) from the free throw line and 68% (11-16) from the free throw line.
Ramapo returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 17th when they host Stockton University in a NJAC game at 3:00 PM.
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