The Saint Peter's College women's basketball team dropped a 59-50 decision, despite coming back from a 19 point defecit. Sophomore Aziza May finished with a game-high 17 points before fouling out with 1:29 to go. Lafayette's Daniella Fiacco just missed a triple-double, as she led the Leopards with 14 points, 13 rebounds and 8 blocks. This marks the first time in program history that the Peahens fall to Lafayette, as they had a 4-0 record against the Leopards entering the game. With the loss, the Peahens remain winless at 0-4, while Lafayette picks up its first win of the 2011-12 season, and improve to 1-3.
The Peahens began the first frame by making just 1of the first 13 field goals. SPC trailed 12-4 early on, with two of the team's points coming on free throws by Kristal Edwards. Sophomore guard Teresa Manigrasso scored the team's second field goal of the game, on a three pointer from the right wing to bring the home team within 5.
Lafayette's Ashley Springer rattled off two foul shots to make the score 14-7, before Kristal Edwards sank a trey to cut the Leopard lead to four. Less than two minutes later, Aziza May would come up with a critcal steal that resulted in a fast break layup, to get the Peahens within 2 points.
Following a 6-3 run by Lafayette, May would again bring Saint Peter's within 2 by draining a three point goal, after the Swedish combination of Josefine von Uthmann and Lovisa Hagberg came up with back to back offensive rebounds. Lafayette closed out the first half with a 7-0 run, to give them a 25-18 advantage heading into the intermission.
Saint Peter's shot just 18.2% in the first frame, while Lafayette made 42.3% of their field goals. The Peahens did however force 12 turnovers, and came up with 8 steals in the half.
Although Saint Peter's started the scoring in the second stanza with a layup from Lauren Morris, Lafayette was able to put together its first double-digit lead of the game (13 points) by shooting 4-6 from the floor. Aziza May again had the answer for the Peahens; scoring their next two field goals, and assisting on the third to bring SPC within 35-26.
Over the next three minutes, the Leopards would go on a 10-0 run, to extend their lead to 19, the largest of the game. Saint Peter's quickly responded and formed their own 14-2, to cut the lead to 7 with 6:25 left on the clock. In that stretch, Lafayette committed 4 turnovers, while Jesika Holme came up with 3 critical steals.May accounted for 6 of the Peahen's 14 points.
Both teams would exchange buckets in the remaining minutes, but Saint Peter's failed to create a run down the strech to allow them to get any closer than six points. Lafayette went 6-10 from the line in the final minute, allowing it to remain a two possesion game untill the last remaining seconds.
Saint Peter's concluded the contest shooting 29% from the field, 27.8% from long distance. Lafayette shot 44% from the floor and went 0-7 from three-point range. SPC went to the charity stripe just 8 times in the game (5-8), while Lafayette took 26 free throws (15-26).
Aziza May led all scorers with 17 points (3-6, 3PT) while adding 3 assists, 3 blocks (career high) and 3 steals. Quiana Porter added 8 points, 4 rebounds and 3 steals for the Peahens, while Teresa Manigrasso finished with 7 points. The Leopards had two players in double digits, Madelina Fahan with 16 points and Danielle Fiacco with 14.
Saint Peter's will return to action next Tuesday, November 29th, as they travel to Teaneck to face local New Jersey rival, Fairleigh Dickinson. Tipoff is scheduled for 7pm.
