Box Score

Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey women's basketball team hosted the Pioneers of William Paterson University on Wednesday night in the semifinals of the 2008-2009 New Jersey Athletic Conference playoffs. TCNJ would tally a 67-47 victory to advance to the championship game and is now 22-4 on the year. WPU drops to 19-8 on the year.

TCNJ will now face Kean University in the finals of the 2008-2009 NJAC Playoffs this Saturday, February 28 at 1 p.m. in TCNJ's Packer Hall. The NJAC's champion will receive an automatic bid to the 2009 NCAA Division III Playoffs. The NCAA tournament field will be announced on March 2 and opening round action of the tournament commences on Wednesday, March 4. TCNJ remains perfect at home this year as the Lions are 12-0 and have now won 19 of their last 20 games.

Kean, the two-time defending league champions, bring a 21-6 record into the championship game. A year ago, Kean defeated TCNJ 70-61 to win the league's championship in Packer Hall, marking TCNJ's last home setback. TCNJ's last NJAC Championship in 2006.

TCNJ was led once again by senior center Hillary Klimowicz (Scotch Plains, NJ/Scotch Plains-Fanwood) as she collected her 11th double-double of the year and 41st of her career. Named the NJAC's Women's Basketball Player of the Year earlier in the day, she netted 19 points and 14 rebounds and seven blocked shots. Overall on her career, she now has 1,533 points and 988 rebounds.

Sophomore forward Kelsey Kutch (Hillsborough, NJ/Hillsborough) added her third double-double as well for the Lions as she netted 10 points with 11 rebounds. Junior Alexandra Gregorek (Mahwah, NJ/Academy of the Holy Angels) hauled in 10 rebounds for the Lions on the night with six points and five steals.

TCNJ led 27-13 at the break as Klimowicz had 10 points and eight rebounds to lead the Lions.

WPU's junior guard Julie Haledjian (Montvale, NJ/Pascack Hills) added a team-high 16 points on the game. The NJAC leader in steals, she finished with seven in the game, elevating her season total to 154. Sophomore forward April Smith (Barnegat, NJ/Southern Regional) added 12 points with a team-high nine rebounds.

For the game, the Lions dominated the boards with a 64-31 edge, including 44 defensive caroms, while adding 11 blocks.