Ewing, NJ – Stockton University (18-9) was eliminated from the NJAC tournament with a 70-56 defeat to The College of New Jersey (21-5) in the conference semifinals. Senior Sasha Williams (Cherry Hill/CH West) went out on a high note with 22 points, 10 rebounds and 12 blocks for her third career triple-double.
 
The 12 blocks were a career high for Williams, who received her fourth NJAC Player of the Year award earlier in the day. Fellow senior Lea Mendolla (Nutley/Mount St. Dominic) also reached double figures with 13 points and added five rebounds and three steals. The Ospreys were outrebounded 45-33, including 21 offensive boards by TCNJ.
 
Stockton fell behind 17-8 early before four points by Williams led a 9-3 spurt that closed the gap to 20-17 at the end of the first quarter. The Ospreys stayed within five until battling back to tie the game twice in the later stages of the second quarter.
 
A three-pointer by Sammi Dabbundo (Philadelphia, PA/Bishop Eustace) knotted the game at 26 and layup with Williams tied it at 28. The Lions the closed the period with a 5-1 edge for a 33-29 count at the break.
 
The game slipped away in the third quarter as Stockton shot just 2-12 from the floor (16.7%) and were outscored 18-9. The score was 35-32 after a Williams free throw, but the Ospreys scored just two points in the next 7:16 and trailed 48-34 on the way to a 51-38 deficit after three periods.
 
Stockton tried to rally at the start of the fourth quarter. Mendolla capped a 9-3 run with a three-point play followed by a layup to slice the margin to seven at 54-47. The comeback stalled as the Ospreys went scoreless for the next two-and-a-half minutes before Dabbundo ended the drought with another three-pointer.
 
TCNJ extended the difference back to double digits with 3:33 remaining, where it stayed the rest of the way as Stockton's five-game winning streak came to an end with the 70-56 defeat.
 
In addition to her fourth NJAC Defensive Player of the Year award, Williams collected her fourth all-conference nod and third straight NJAC First Team honor. She was joined on the NJAC First Team by Najha Treadwell (Cinnaminson/Cinnaminson) while Mendolla was an NJAC Honorable Mention selection. All three Ospreys finished their careers with more than 1,000 points apiece.