Ewing, NJ … The College of New Jersey women's basketball team saw its seven game winning streak come to a close they fell to William Paterson University 62-54 on Saturday afternoon in Packer Hall.
 
The Lions (9-7, 5-4 NJAC) lost for the first time since December 9, rattling off seven straight victories during that span, including three in New Jersey Athletic Conference games.
 
An 11-1 run in the second period gave the Pioneers (9-7, 5-4 NJAC) a double-digit lead and they never trailed the rest of the way. Sophomore Jackie Rodriguez (Sayreville, NJ/Sayreville War Memorial) pumped in a game-high 29 points on 9-of-14 shooting to lead WPU to a conference road win.
 
Senior Angelica Esposito (Lincroft, NJ/St. John Vianney) led TCNJ with 14 points. Junior Kim Dana (Freehold, NJ/Freehold) chipped in with seven points and four assists, while senior Christina Merlin (North Brunswick, NJ/Bishop Ahr) finished with seven points and 10 rebounds.
 
The story of the opening half was the outside shooting of Rodriguez. She connected on 7-of-10 shots, which included 6-of-9 from three-point land. The WPU guard registered 20 points before the break, spearheading WPU's 33-27 lead.
 
TCNJ shot just 33 percent in the first two quarters and 1-of-12 from behind the arc. Merlin was a strong presence inside the paint and provided a spark late in the second period to enable the Lions to pull within six points.
 
Late in the third, junior Taryn Corrigan (Ramsey, NJ/Ramsey) hit a pair of three-point field goals to cut the deficit to 43-41. Rodgriguez answered, however, with her seventh trey of the contest to give WPU a 46-41 lead entering the final quarter.
 
A 6-0 run midway through the final period allowed the Lions to draw within one. Esposito converted a pair of free throws before junior Katy Amato (Wyckoff, NJ/Ramapo) dropped in a layup. Sophomore Charlotte Schum (East Hanover, NJ/Morris Catholic) then fired a half-court pass to a wide-open Cindy Napolitano (Wall, NJ/St. Rose) and she banked it in to make it a 48-47 game with 5:25 to play.
 
The Lions continued to pressure the Pioneers, but could not catch them as they secured the victory from the free throw line in the final minute of play. Senior Alex Milne was tough underneath, finishing with eight rebounds, four blocked shots, and three steals.
 
TCNJ continues its conference schedule this Wednesday when they visit Rutgers-Camden for a contest that tips of at 6 p.m.