WILLIAM PATERSON ROLLS TO 71-47 WIN IN EC INVITATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

BOSTON, Mass. – Junior guard Brittany Harden (Millville, N.J.) scored a game-high 18 points to lead the William Paterson University women's basketball team over host Emmanuel College, 71-47, this afternoon to win the 31st Annual Emmanuel College Invitational at the Jean Yawkey Center on the campus of Emmanuel College in Boston, Mass. The Pioneers improve to 2-0, while the Saints fall to 1-1.

William Paterson wins the tournament crown for the second time in four years, adding this year's title to the 2011 championship.

The Pioneers shot a blistering 61.5% (16-26) for the first half and outscored Emmanuel 24-3 in the final 10:33 of the period, holding the Saints to just 1-17 (.059) from the floor, while forcing nine turnovers. Harden scored eight of her 10 first half points during the dominant stretch for William Paterson.  The Pioneers made the most of their time on the line, making 20 of 27 free throws for the game.

William Paterson scored eight of the first 10 points of the opening half and later owned a 17-7 lead with 13:04 to play in the period. The Saints came back with seven unanswered points, capped by a three-pointer from freshman guard Ryan Maynard (Bowie, Md.), to pull to within 17-14 at the 10:33 mark, before the Pioneers' defensive pressure took over.

Emmanuel began the second half on a 13-2 blitz, led by six points apiece from senior forward Jennifer Bujnowski (Salem, N.H.) and junior guard Sarah Higgins (Groveland, Mass.), to pull to within 43-30 with 15:48 to play in the second stanza. It was as close as the Saints would get for the remainder of the contest. William Paterson regrouped and ripped off 11 unanswered points, fueled by five points from junior forward Mary Haines (Ridgefield Park, N.J.), to increase its lead to 54-30 with 11:03 showing in the second half. Harden later converted a layup on a fast break to give the Pioneers their largest lead of the day at 67-38 with 3:20 remaining in the game, before coming away with the 71-47 victory.

Higgins and Bujnowksi both finished with 14 points as the Saints' leading scorers. Higgins added seven rebounds, three steals and a block, while Bujnowski, who was selected to the All-Tournament Team, was 7-12 from the floor and pulled down three rebounds to go with three steals and a pair of blocks. Junior point guard Devin Rauh (Collegeville, Pa.) led all playmakers with eight assists in addition to scoring two points, coming down with four caroms, making two steals and blocking a shot to land a spot on the All-Tournament squad.

Harden, who was named the Tournament Most Valuable Player, was an efficient 8-9 from the floor for William Paterson and added eight boards, two steals and an assist. Haines finished with 13 points, six rebounds, two assists and game-highs of four steals and three blocks to earn All-Tournament honors, while freshman guard Julie Rovito (Ridgefield Park, N.J.) came off the bench to net 13 points, grab two boards, hand out four assists and block a shot. Junior guard Sara Luberto (Midland Park, N.J.) contributed with 12 points, four rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals.

Emmanuel will be in action again on Tuesday, November 18 taking on Eastern Connecticut State University at 7:00 p.m., while the Pioneers take on Farmingdale State College at 7:00 p.m. in Farmingdale, N.Y.

31st Annual Emmanuel College Invitational All-Tournament Team
Kit Small – SUNY New Paltz
Jennifer Bujnowski – Emmanuel
Devin Rauh – Emmanuel
Mary Haines – William Paterson
Ashley Marfo – William Paterson
Brittany Harden (MVP) – William Paterson