Box Score The Saint Peter's women's basketball team (0-6) was unable to hold on to a two-point half-time lead and dropped a 55-50 decision to the visiting Fairleigh Dickinson University Knights (3-5). The game featured 14 lead changes and 7 tied scores, before the Knights were able to form a 7-0 run in the closing minutes to establish a lead they would never relinquish.
Antonia Smith led the way with 11 points; tying her career-high which she set in the Peacocks' last game against Akron. Smith scored all of her 11 markers in the first frame. Kaydine Bent also finished in double-figures in the loss, contributing 10 points.
The Peacocks jumped in front 6-4 to open the game (17:37), but a 6-0 run by the Knights put the visitors in front 8-6 heading into the first media timeout. The Knights maintained a lead until 9:17, when Kadeen Bent made 1-of-2 free throws to knot the score at 13-13.
A 15-foot jumper on the baseline by Aziza May off the dish from Jesika Holmes gave the Peacocks their first advantage since the opening minutes thirty seconds later (15-13). Lovisa Hagberg extended the hosts' lead to four- banking in a jumper off the block (7:35).
Saint Peter's maintained at least a two-point lead, until a turn around jumper by Torrie Childs at the four-minute mark cut the lead to a single digit (20-19). Smith hit a long-two on the following possession to allow the home-team to go up 3, but FDU's Mariah Nunes converted a two-point basket of her own on the other end to make the score 22-21.
May drained a trey at the top to the key to reopen a four-point margin (25-21) with two minutes remaining. The Knights managed to add a final basket (1:12), to head into the half-time break trailing 27-25.
The Peacocks' two-point advantage at the intermission marked the first time all season that Stephanie DeWolfe's squad had led at half-time. In their home opener Saint Peter's managed to tie Lehigh 28-28 heading into the half, but that would be the closest they would be to leading in any game so far this season.
Antonia Smith tied her career high in the first half alone, leading the Peacocks with 11 points on 5-6 shooting. Kaydine Bent added 7 points in the stanza.
The Peacocks shot 42.3% from the field, 28.5% from three and 50% from the line in the opening frame. Fairleigh Dickinson shot 27% from the field and 55.6% from the line. The Knights failed to connect on a three-point shot in the stanza.
FDU opened up the second half on a 5-0 run; tying the game eleven seconds in and grabbing the lead (30-27) at 16:38
A fast-break layup by Khadijah Young following a steal by Aziza May brought the hosts within one heading into the first media timeout.
The Peacocks regained the lead in the thirteenth minute (34-33), as Kristal Edwards turned over the ball, but May managed to pick up a deflection and find Edwards under the basket for an easy two-points. Saint Peter's maintained an advantage until the Knights scored four straight points to jump in front 37-34. FDU went ahead by as many as five points (43-38), until Holmes connected on a layup at 8:10 to make the score 43-40
Saint Peter's trailed for the following two minutes, but a trey from the left wing by Khadijah Young put the hosts in front 45-44 (6:07).
Two lead changes occurred, until the Knights were able to go on a 6-0 run to go ahead 53-47. The Peacocks were soon back in the contests, as May drained a three-ball to make it a three-point game with 39 ticks on the clock. The three-point deficit is the closest the hosts would get for the remainder of the contest.
Kristal Edwards contributed 6 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists in the loss.
FDU had three players in double figures; Danielle Pankey (16), Mariah Nunes (15) and Erika Livermore (12).
Overall, the Peacocks went 19-55 from the floor (34.5%), 4-20 from long distance (20%) and 8-17 from the line (47.1%). The Knights shot 32.3%, 7.7% and 50%, respectively.
The Knights outrebounded the hosts by a 55-50 margin and committed 14 turnovers to Saint Peter's 15.
Saint Peter's returns to action this Tuesday, as they host NJIT at 7pm.
