HALEDON, N.J. - For the third consecutive game, rookie forward Nia Rencher (Wappingers Falls, N.Y.) racked up a game-high 18 points but the Western Connecticut State University women's basketball team dropped an 80-60 decision at non-conference foe William Paterson University on Saturday afternoon. She also added a team-high 10 rebounds to earn the double-double, while junior guard Malaysia Dingle (Brockton, Mass.) chipped in with a season-high 17 points on 8-for-12 shooting from the floor.

The Pioneers utilized a well-balanced scoring attack as six different players notched double figures. Renee Wells led the effort with a double-double of her own on the strength of 13 points and a game-high 14 boards. Three other players added 12 points apiece while a pair of others tallied 11.

The story of the game was turnovers. The Wolves committed 32 errors, while the hosts coughed the ball up just 17 times. It led to 36 points off turnovers for the Pioneers. The William Paterson reserves also outscored the WestConn bench, 30-12.

The visitors came out on fire and raced out to an early 9-2 lead when Rencher stole the ball and scurried downcourt for a fastbreak layup. However, the hosts countered with a 14-2 run and would hold a 22-16 lead to end the first quarter. 

WestConn sliced the deficit to just three points in the second before William Paterson reeled off another surge to head into the locker room at the half, ahead 43-33. The Wolves quickly erased the margin in the third quarter as they stormed back to regain a 46-44 lead when rookie guard Xiomara Soto (Danbury, Conn.) took a feed from classmate Gianna Castellano (East Haven, Conn.) and buried a shot from beyond-the-arc. 

The Wolves' lead was short-lived, however, as the Pioneers answered to snag the advantage once again and head into the fourth up 57-49. The final stanza was all William Paterson as they cruised the rest of the way.

With the loss, WestConn dropped to 4-8 overall while the Pioneers improved to 8-4. WestConn will look to break up the losing skid when they travel to Little East Conference archrival Eastern Connecticut on Wednesday at 6 p.m.