The TCNJ women’s basketball team lost its New Jersey Athletic Conference opener to William Paterson, 64-54, on Tuesday at Packer Hall. The Lions, now 0-6 overall and 0-1 in the NJAC, struggled offensively, shooting just 30 percent from the field and 23 percent from three-point range.
Maddie Bernhardt led TCNJ with 11 points and was the only Lion to reach double figures. Amanda Baylock contributed nine points while Brooke McFadden finished with eight points and ten rebounds, narrowly missing a second straight double-double.
TCNJ started strong with a quick 5-0 lead after a three-pointer by Bernhardt and a layup from Maya Hourigan-Hutton. After William Paterson responded with six unanswered points, TCNJ went on a 9-0 run to regain control. Renee Wells scored four consecutive points late in the first quarter to help TCNJ hold a 16-13 advantage after one period.
The teams traded leads throughout the second quarter. Katie Fricker tied the game at 26 before Baylock hit three out of four free throws in the final minute of the half, giving TCNJ a three-point lead at halftime.
In the third quarter, William Paterson edged TCNJ by three points to tie the score at 44 entering the fourth. In the final period, William Paterson made key plays to build a seven-point lead midway through. Wells sealed the win for William Paterson by making free throws down the stretch.
“We played hard but missed some opportunities in key moments,” said head coach Chessie Jackson. “William Paterson executed well when it mattered most.”
TCNJ finished with season lows in shooting percentage (30.5 percent) and three-point percentage (22.6 percent), converting just 11 of their 18 free throw attempts. William Paterson shot slightly better from the field (35.3 percent) but excelled at getting to and converting from the free throw line (26-for-33).
William Paterson also capitalized on turnovers, scoring twenty points off TCNJ’s mistakes compared to ten for TCNJ off Pioneer turnovers.
Bernhardt extended her streak of games with double-digit scoring and multiple made threes to three straight contests. McFadden has averaged eleven points and eleven rebounds over her last two games. Hourigan-Hutton set a season high with seven points while Fricker collected a season-best eleven rebounds.
For William Paterson, Renee Wells scored thirty-five points—making sixteen of seventeen free throws—and grabbed ten rebounds. Jada Jacobs added ten points along with six rebounds and four assists.
TCNJ will look for its first win of the season when it faces Stockton in another NJAC matchup on Wednesday, December 3 at home.
