Upper Montclair, NJ (2/19/03) - Junior guard Kat McPhail (Sparta, NJ/Hopatcong) scored 23 points and senior guard Katie Morris (Deptford, NJ/Deptford) followed with 19 as William Paterson remained alive in the New Jersey Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Playoff hunt with a 63-60 victory over Montclair State in NJAC action at Panzer Gymnasium on Wednesday evening.

The Lady Pioneers (12-12, 9-8 NJAC) held off the Red Hawks (12-11, 7-10 NJAC) despite managing just 25 points in the final 20 minutes while failing to score a field goal in the last 9:38 of the game. William Paterson is in fifth place, one-game behind Rutgers-Camden for the last spot in the NJAC Tournament, which begins on February 27th. Rutgers-Camden had their game with Rowan postponed this evening.

Senior center JASMINE BATTS (Carteret, NJ/Carteret) had 18 points and nine rebounds for Montclair State, which committed 35 turnovers - four late in the game - and lost for the fourth straight time.

William Paterson, which swept the season series from its local rival, led 57-48 with 9:38 to play as McPhail scored on a layup. McPhail would add two more free throws to make the score 59-48, but MSU chipped away at the lead. Batts' short jumper cut the lead to 59-53 with 6:35 to play. STEPHANIE CROLEY (Piscataway, NJ/Piscataway) had a steal and layup to make the score 61-57 and SHIKEENA LYNARD's (Carney's Point, NJ/Penns Grove) basket pulled MSU within 61-59 with 3:50 to play.

Montclair had a chance to tie, but DYETTE DILLARD (Willingboro, NJ/Willingboro) made just one-of-two at the free throw line for a 61-60 WPU lead with 2:04 to play. Montclair then had four opportunities to take the lead, but turned the ball over on each occasion. Morris then hit two free throws to extend the lead to 63-60 with 27 seconds. Montclair got one final chance, but ERIN SCHULTZ' (West Milford, NJ/West Milford) three-pointer did not go.

McPhail (11 points) and Morris (10 points) accounted for 21 of the Lady Pioneers' 25 second-half scoring. William Paterson made as many shots from the free throw line (8) as they did from the field (8-of-32). Jeanine Day (Green Brook, NJ/Kearny) had 11 rebounds for WPU, which made 27 turnovers and shot only 32 percent in the contest (20-of-61).

Freshman EBONY ALLEN (Camden, NJ/Woodrow Wilson) had 11 points and Dillard 10 for Montclair State, which outrebounded WPU, 46-40. The Red Hawks however were just 15-of-26 (57 percent) at the charity stripe. Schultz, who had four points, Batts and Croley (nine rebounds) were making their final home appearance for Montclair State.