(Nov. 30, 2005) - Junior guard Luci Custis (Roselle, NJ/Abraham Clark) finished with a game-high18 points along with seven rebounds and four steals while leading four William Paterson players in double figures as the Pioneers used a big first-half run to take control before holding off backyard and New Jersey Athletic Conference rival Montclair State, 74-63, Wednesday evening at the William Paterson Rec Center.
Sophomore guard Michelle Pellichero (Milltown, NJ/Bishop Ahr) finished with 13 points, six assists and four rebounds, including a 7-for-8 showing from the charity stripe in the final 1:38, as the Pioneers (2-3, 1-1 NJAC) snapped a three-game losing streak. Senior center Barrie Quick (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) poured in 13 points and junior forward Melissa Moore (North Bergen, NJ/North Bergen) added 10. William Paterson owned a 42-33 edge on the glass.
Freshman guard Meghan Kelly (Newtown, CT/Newtown) led the Red Hawks (2-2, 0-2 NJAC) by scoring 10 of her 15 points in the second half, while junior forward Stephanie Machin (New Providence, NJ/New Providence) added 13 and eight rebounds for the Red Hawks (2-2, 0-2 NJAC).
William Paterson took control of the game with a 24-8 first-half run as Pellichero buried a pair of 3-pointers and sophomore guard Lori Custis (Roselle, NJ/Abraham Clark) contributed four points and three steals. The Pioneers led 46-28 after Moore converted a pair of free throws with 13:41 remaining before Montclair State, freshman guard Marianne McGovern (Fair Lawn, NJ/Paramus Catholic) scored five points during a 10-2 burst that pulled the Red Hawks within 48-38 with 10:58 left.
However, Montclair State never got any closer than eight points the rest of the way, getting within 60-52 on a Kelly jumper with 2:32 remaining. From there, Pellichero iced the game at the charity stripe.
William Paterson resumes action Saturday, Dec. 3, when it travels to Pomona to take on NJAC opponent Richard Stockton College at 4 p.m. Montclair State travels to take on NJAC rival Rutgers-Newark the same day at 5 p.m.
At Wayne, NJ/Rec Center WILLIAM PATERSON 74, MONTCLAIR STATE 63 MONTCLAIR STATE (2-3, 1-1 NJAC) Meghan Kelley 6-12 0-0 15; Stephanie Machin 3-7 7-11 13; Michelle Madej 4-7 2-2 10; Marianne McGovern 3-7 0-0 7; Briana Davis 2-5 0-0 5; Jessica Horan 2-5 0-0 5; Jessica Garrabrant 2-3 0-0 4; Amanda Mullaney 0-3 2-2 2; Ferin Catlett 1-5 0-0 2; Amanda Melo 0-0 0-0 0; Amy Bonk 0-0 0-0 0; Cynthia Warrington 0-3 0-0 0. Totals 23-57 11-15 63. WILLIAM PATERSON (2-2, 1-1 NJAC) Luci Custis 8-16 2-2 18; Michelle Pellichero 3-13 7-8 16; Barrie Quick 6-9 0-0 13; Melissa Moore 3-11 4-7 10; Meghan Ludgate 4-5 0-0 8; Lori Custis 1-3 2-2 4; Alima Williams 1-3 1-4 3; Joi Stevens 1-1 0-0 2; Asia Johnson 0-0 0-0 0; Kimberly Lavin 0-1 0-0 0; Lauren Miller 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 27-62 16-23 74. Montclair State............... 17 46 - 63 William Paterson.............. 31 43 - 74 3-point goals-Montclair State 6-17 (Meghan Kelley 3-6; Marianne McGovern 1-3; Jessica Horan 1-2; Briana Davis 1-2; Cynthia Warrington 0-3; Michelle Madej 0-1), William Paterson 4-9 (Michelle Pellichero 3-6; Barrie Quick 1-1; Luci Custis 0-2). Fouled out--Montclair State-None, William Paterson-Barrie Quick. Rebounds-Montclair State 33 (Stephanie Machin 8), William Paterson 42 (Luci Custis 7). Assists-Montclair State 16 (Jessica Horan 6), William Paterson 15 (Michelle Pellichero 6). Total fouls-Montclair State 19, William Paterson 17. A-143