The Saint Peter's College women's basketball team ended their 2011-12 home schedule with a victory on Senior Day, topping the Rider Broncs by a score of 65-64. The win also marked the first time this season that the Peahens have swept a series, after defeating Rider 65-54 in Lawrenceville, NJ on January 15th. Seniors Jynae Judson and Lauren Morris led the Peahens with 19 and 16 points respectively, in their last games in the Yanitelli Center. Saint Peter's improves to 4-24 overall, 4-13 MAAC, while Rider drops to 11-17, 3-13 MAAC.
In the most appropriate fashion, the Peahens jumped out to a 7-2 lead (15:45), with all 7 points scored by seniors; Lauren Morris (4 points), Jynae Judson (2 points) and Quiana Porter (1 points). Saint Peter's extended their lead to as many as six points (13-7) following a two-point basket by junior forward Kaydine Bent.
Rider quickly went on a 6-0 run, and in the eighth minute Caitlin Bopp tied the score for the first time at 13-13. Porter responded for the Peahens on the other end with a made layup to regain a two-point advantage.
Three tied scores would take place in the following three minutes, until Saint Peter's formed a 7-1 run, capped by a Jynae Judson trey, to go in front 26-20 at 2:51. Rider outscored the hosts 7-2 (5 points from Caitlin Bopp) however, to cut the six-point deficit and head into the intermission trailing by only one point at 28-27.
For the half, the Peahens out-shot Rider, 37.5% to 37.0%. Both teams shot poorly from three-point range, as SPC went 1-8 (12.5%) and the Broncs went 1-5 (20%) from beyond the arc.
Jynae Judson led SPC with 9 points, while Lauren Morris added 6 points and Quiana Porter contributed 5. Caitlin Bopp recorded 9 points in the to lead Rider.
Lauren Morris opened up the second half scoring four straight points for Saint Peter's, to maintain a 32-30 lead. A jumper by Aziza May at the sixteen-minute mark gave the Peahens a seven-point advantage at 39-32.
The hosts held on to a lead until 11:38, when Rider again tied the game, this time at 44-44. Saint Peter's reclaimed the lead thirty seconds later, as Lovisa Hagberg drained a three from the top of the key, but the visitors answered with a 6-1 run to go in front 50-48.
Another two-point basket by May evened the score at 50-50, but Rider established their biggest lead of the game at 62-54 (eight points) with 5:08 left in the final stanza.
Saint Peter's held Rider to just two points in the final five minutes, with the Broncs connecting on only 1-6 attempts from the floor, and going 0-2 from the charity stripe. The Peahens did exceptionally well from the free throw line in the final five minutes, going 9-10, and adding a field goal to close out the game outscoring the visitors 11-2.
For the game, the Peahens shot 36.1% from the field and 25.0% from three-point range, while Rider shot 39.6% and 33.3%, respectively. Both teams recorded 38 rebounds in the contest. Saint Peter's finished with a season-low 9 turnovers, to Rider's 13.
Every Peahen that saw action in the contest, with the exception of two players, recorded at least 2 points. Senior Quiana Porter finished with 6 points and 8 rebounds, despite being in foul trouble for the majority of the game. Aziza May contributed 8 points, 5 rebounds and a game-high 5 assists as well.
The Broncs were led by Caitlin Bopp's game-high 21 points, and MyNeshia McKenzie who recorded 6 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
Saint Peter's will conclude their regular season schedule this Sunday, as they travel to New Rochelle, NJ to face off against the Iona Gaels. Tipoff is scheduled for 2:30pm.
