Senior forward Renee Wells scored 22 points as the William Paterson women’s basketball team clinched the NJAC regular-season title with an 83-65 victory over New Jersey City University on Saturday.
With NJCU set to cancel sports programs next season and merge with Kean, the matchup marks the final meeting between the two programs. The Pioneers made a statement in their last showdown.
New Jersey City jumped out to a fast start, opening the game on a 15-5 run behind jumpers from sophomore guard Meghan Gentile and junior wing Na’tori Postell.
William Paterson responded after a timeout from coach Erin Monahan, closing the first quarter on an 8-0 run. Senior Megan Sears sparked the surge with an and-one that shifted the momentum in favor of the Pioneers.
William Paterson took control in the second quarter, outscoring the Gothic Knights 23-9 to build a comfortable halftime lead.
The second half followed a similar script. NJCU kept the game within reach at times, trimming the deficit to 10 on multiple occasions in the third quarter. However, turnovers and foul trouble — the Gothic Knights committed 26 fouls — prevented a sustained comeback.
NJCU played with just eight available players, and after an energetic start, the physical toll of 40 minutes of NJAC basketball became evident.
A fourth-quarter 3-pointer cut the lead to eight, but Wells answered with a layup, and free throws from junior guard Jada Jacobs and sophomore guard Kaleyn Gowdy sealed the outcome.
Gentile led NJCU with 23 points, while Postell added 20. No other Gothic Knight reached double figures.
Junior Mattison Chiera tied a career high with 17 points for William Paterson, adding five rebounds and four assists. Senior Luna Kirby scored 12 points, marking her third double-digit outing in the last four games. Gowdy finished with 10 points, and senior forward Patty Walsh contributed nine points, seven rebounds and three blocks.
The Pioneers entered the week ranked No. 17 in the WBCA Division III Coaches Poll and No. 20 in the National Power Index. They are seeking their first appearance in the d3hoops.com Top 25 this season after receiving 24 votes last week, the fifth-most among teams left off the ballot. Clinching the conference title could help push them into the rankings.
Monahan has never guided the program through an undefeated conference season, previously finishing with three one-loss NJAC campaigns. With upcoming games against Kean, Rutgers-Camden and Ramapo, William Paterson has a chance to finish 18-0 in conference play for the first time in program history.
The Pioneers return to action at the Sports and Recreation Center in Wayne, N.J., hosting Kean University at 5:30 p.m.
