Box Score The Saint Peter's women's basketball team was defeated by the NJIT Highlanders, 62-35, this evening. The Peacocks trailed for the entirety of the contest; failing to attain a lead at any point. The game featured one tied score; when the hosts knotted the score (2-2) four minutes into the contest.
With the loss, the Peacocks fall to 0-7 while the Highlanders improve to 6-5.
Jesika Holmes and Antonia Smith tied for the team-high in points, contributing 8 points each. Holmes added 7 points and 5 steals in the loss.
Kristal Edwards finished with 6 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists.
The Peacocks started off the first half tied with the Highlanders at 2, until the visitors went on a 7-0 run nearing the 15-minute mark to force Head Coach Stephanie DeWolfe to call a timeout.
DeWolfe's squad responded to the intermission by going on a 7-2 spurt to come within two at 11-9 (12:37). Six consecutive unanswered points by NJIT reestablished an eight-point advantage for the visitors, until senior forward Jesika Holmes broke the run with a layup at 8:21 (17-11).
NJIT opened up their first double-digit lead (23-13) at the 5:38 mark following a jumper by Rayven Johnson. Saint Peter's was able to get within single digits on one occasion (25-16, 2:08), until the Highlanders added a final basket to head into the half-time leading 27-16.
For the half, the Peacocks were held to a 20.7% shooting percentage, hitting just 1 three-point field goal in 11 attempts.
Sophomore guard Antonia Smith led the hosts in the half with 5 points, while Aziza May and Jesika Holmes each had 4.
NJIT shot 41.4% in the stanza, and missed both three-point attempts.
The Peacocks trailed by as many as 13 (31-18), after back-to-back buckets by Johnson three and a half minutes into the second stanza. A 6-0 run, paced by four points by senior forward Kaydine Bent, brought the hosts within 8 at 13:53, the closest they had been since the 6:15 mark of the opening frame.
That was the closest Saint Peter's would get for the remainder of the contest, as they were outscored 30-11 in the closing minutes.
The Highlanders were led by Rayven Johnson and Uju Nwankwo, who each recorded double-doubles. Johnson finished with 23 points, 10 rebounds while Nwankwo had 14 points, 13 rebounds.
Saint Peter's shot 21.1% overall, their second lowest shooting performance of the year. Half of the Peacocks' field goals came from long distance, as they went 6-28 from three-point range.
The hosts connected on 9-15 free throw attempts (60%).
NJIT shot 40.4% from the floor, 11.1% from long distance and 78.9% from the line.
Saint Peter's returns to action this Saturday, with a road game against Stony Brook at 2pm.
