Ewing, NJ… The College of New Jersey women's basketball team will open the New Jersey Athletic Conference Tournament at home as the Lions take on William Paterson University on Tuesday, February 25 at 7 p.m.

TCNJ (18-7) is the second seed in the tournament and earned a bye into the semi-finals. The Pioneers are the third seed and advanced to the semis with a 74-52 win over Ramapo College.

The winner of Tuesday's game will advance to the NJAC Championship, with the winner of that game earning an automatic bid to the 2013 NCAA Division III Tournament. The other semi-final match-up has top-seeded Montclair State University hosting fourth-seeded Kean University.

The Lions won the first meeting of the season against the Pioneers, claiming a narrow 79-78 win in Packer Hall back on November 23. William Paterson then collected a 74-50 victory at home on January 22 to earn the season split.

TCNJ's defense will face a tough test as they will go up against the top-scoring offense in the conference in the Pioneers. William Paterson scores a league-best 74.3 points per game, while senior Floriana Borova is the leading scorer in the NJAC at 20.4 points per game.

The Lions are second in team defense allowing only 59.8 points a contest. In the last eight games, TCNJ has allowed more than 60 points once and is yielding an even better 52.1 points during that span.

At the offensive end of the floor, balance has been a key for the Lions with senior Kelly Roddy (Belmar, NJ/St. Rose) leading a balanced attack at 11.4 points per game. Classmate Tiffany DeTulio (Colts Neck, NJ/Colts Neck) is also scoring in double figures at 10.0, while senior Liz West (Monmouth Beach, NJ/Shore Regional) and junior Kylie O'Donnell (Magnolia, NJ/Sterling) are tied for third averaging 8.6 ppg.

Home court has been an advantage for the Lions all season as they have won nine of their 11 home games.

Ticket prices for the game are $5 for adults; $2 for children, senior citizens, and students.