Box Score JERSEY CITY, N.J. – Antonia Smith's (Bronx, N.Y./Dwight School) career-high 22 points wouldn't be enough on Saturday, as Sacred Heart held on to defeat Saint Peter's, 76-73.
Kaydine Bent (Bronx, N.Y. / Harry S. Truman) finished just shy of a double-double, with 14 points and nine rebounds. Hala Mostafa (Cairo, Egypt / Modern Narmer Language School) tallied 12 points and five rebounds in addition to Bridget Whitfield's (San Diego, Calif. / La Costa Canyon) 10 points.
In the first half, both teams would exchange opening baskets. Gabriell Washington's made jump shot and back-to-back baskets by Ericka Norman helped the Pioneers take an early 10-6 advantage. Following a free throw by Bent and a layup by Aziza May (South Euclid, Ohio/Charles F. Brush), the Peacocks quickly cut the deficit to one. Mostafa would create a turnover, stealing the ball from her opponent and finding May up the court for the easy layup to take the lead.
Adaysha Williams would respond with a jumper, taking back the lead for Sacred Heart. Mostafa would answer, making a layup on the next possession. Following a made free throw to tie the score at 13, back-to-back buckets by Bent and May gave Saint Peter's a 17-15 lead. Sacred Heart would score seven consecutive points behind three-point field goals by Caitlyn Abela and Katie Shepard to take a 22-17 lead. A three-pointer by Smith and two made free throws by Mostafa would tie the game back up at 22.
Made free throws by the Pioneers put Sacred Heart back up 25-22. This would begin a 9-2 run by the Pioneers behind back-to-back field goals by Washington. Washington would find her groove, hitting her free throws and a layup to take a 35-26 Sacred Heart lead. Saint Peter's would cut into the deficit, following a three-point field goal made by Whitfield. However, the Pioneers would respond with a three of its own by Shelby Hickey to build on Sacred Heart's lead.
Free throws by Kaycee DeVoogd (Edison, N.J./New Providence) and Whitfield brought the Peacocks within six with under a minute left in the first half. The Pioneers would ultimately go into halftime with a 39-34 advantage.
Washington led the way for Sacred Heart in the first with nine points on 40-percent shooting. Smith finished with nine points in the first half on 50-percent shooting.
In the second, the Peacocks opened up with a quick layup by Smith to cut the deficit to three. Sacred Heart would respond with back-to-back field goals to take a 43-36 lead.
Saint Peter's would begin to march back, mounting a run started off by a made basket from Teresa Corchado (Willingboro, N.J./Camden Catholic). Following a defensive rebound, Corchado found herself at the free throw line, where she made both shots. Following a media timeout, Smith would hit a big three-pointer to tie the game at 43. Following a miss by the Pioneers, Mostafa would hit a three to give Saint Peter's the lead. On the team's next possession, Bent was sent to the line, where she made both free throws to take a 48-43 lead. Sacred Heart would respond, as Washington would score five straight points to tie the game.
The Peacocks would mount another run, as Bent scored seven straight points to take a 55-48 lead. The Pioneers would answer with a three from Abela to cut he deficit. A jump shot from Smith and made free throws from Mostafa helped Saint Peter's maintain its lead. Sacred Heart would on a quick 6-2 run to regain the lead, 62-61.
A made layup by Norman gave Sacred Heart the 64-61 lead. Both teams would exchange points, with Sacred Heart leading 68-65. Whitfield would hit the game-tying field goal with 56-seconds left in the half to tie the game. Saint Peter's had an opportunity with under 10-seconds to win the game, but failed to convert the field goal sending the game into overtime.
In the second half, the game saw three ties and two lead changes.
In overtime, both teams exchanged misses before back-to-back layups and a free throw by Norman gave Sacred Heart the 73-68 lead. Saint Peter's would respond with a jump shot from Smith to cut the lead to three. Following a missed three by Whitfield, Saint Peter's was forced to foul the rest of the way. Free throws would seal the deal for the Pioneers, as they went on to win 76-73.
Three players finished in double-figures for Sacred Heart, highlighted by Washington's 18 points and Norman's five points in overtime.
Saint Peter's returns to action Dec. 1, when they welcome Loyola (Md.) to the Yanitelli Center for its non-conference contest.
