Held to a season-low 13 points in the first frame, the Peahens were unable to overcome an 18 point first half deficit and were defeated 61-44 by the Fairfield Stags on Saturday afternoon. The Stags closed out the opening stanza with a 10-0 run, to go into the intermission with a double-digit cushion they would never surrender. Jynae Judson led the team in scoring for the thirteenth time this season, finishing with 8 points. The Peahens are now 2-20, 2-9 MAAC on the season, while Fairfield improves to 18-5, 11-1 MAAC.
After winning the opening tip, the Peahens committed a turnover on the first possession of the game that Fairfield capitalized on, as Alexys Vasquez drained a long three at 19:16.
A free throw by Kristal Edwards and a reverse layup by Lauren Morris would even the score at 3-3 just over three minutes into the half. Vasquez again responded for the Stags, hitting her second in as many treys to reestablish a three point lead for the hosts.
Less than fifteen seconds later, Jynae Judson found Quiana Porter under the basket for an easy two-points, to bring SPC within one at 6-5.
The Stags continued to blank Saint Peter's 5-0 over the next six minutes to create a 10-5 advantage. A fifteen foot jumper by Antonia Smith at 11:25 ended the Peahens' scoring drought and made the score 10-7.
Fairfield went on a 9-2 spurt to head into the under-eight media timeout with a ten point cushion at 19-9 (5:50).
A jumpshot in the paint by Aziza May cut the Stag's lead to eight, 19-11, the closest the Peahens would be for the remainder of the contest. Fairfield closed out the stanza on a 10-0 run to lead 31-13 at the break.
Fairfield's Vasquez paced the home team with 12 points in the frame, shooting a perfect 4-4 from beyond the arc. Six (all five starters) of the 11 players that saw action for Saint Peter's contributed a bucket, while Kristal Edwards led the team with 3 points.
Saint Peter's shot just 19.4% from the field and went 0-5 from three-point range in the half, while Fairfield shot 44.0% and 55.6%, respectively. The Peahens committed 10 turnovers during the first twenty minutes of play, while the Stags made 7.
The Peahens started off the second half hot, outscoring the Stags by a 7-3 margin (34-20). However, yet another 9-2 run by Fairfield allowed the hosts to regain control of the game, following a conventional three-point play by Desiree Pina (43-22).
Although the Peahens outscored the Stags by a 31-30 margin, Fairfield's first half 18-point lead proved too large to overcome. Fairfield obtained their highest lead of the game at the 5:23 minute mark, when they went ahead by 23 at 53-30 after a two-point basket by Vasquez.
Overall, Saint Peter's shot 27.9% from the field, and failed to connect on a three-pointer for the second time this season. Fairfield finished with a 47.7% field goal percentage, and shot 41.0% from long distance.
The Peahens were led by Jynae Judson's 8 points, 5 rebounds, while Quiana Porter finished second in scoring with 7 points and added 8 boards. Lauren Morris also chipped in with 6 points, 6 rebounds.
Aleyxs Vasquez led all scorers with 17 points (5-6 3FG) and Desiree Pina added 15 points for Fairfield.
The Peahens will return to action this Monday, as they travel to Poughkeepsie, NY to face the Marist Red Foxes. Tipoff is scheduled for 7pm.
