Box Score HACKENSACK, NJ. – Aziza May's (South Euclid, Ohio/Charles F. Brush) 12 second-half points propelled Saint Peter's to a 62-56 win against Fairleigh Dickinson to give the Peacocks its first win of the season.
Clutch free throw shooting in the final moments of the second half helped Saint Peter's hold on to the team's first victory.
May led all scorers on Wednesday with 20 points. Hala Mostafa (Cairo, Egypt/Modern Narmer Language School) finished with a career-high eight blocks in the win.
In the first half, May kicked things off for a layup to give Saint Peter's a 2-0 lead. Following a made free throw by the Knights, Mostafa would make a layup to extend the Saint Peter's lead. Fairleigh Dickinson would respond with a basketball to cut the deficit to one. Next trip down the court, a 3-pointer from May gave Saint Peter's the 7-3 lead.
The Knights would respond with a pair of free throws from Desiree Crawford to cut the Peacock lead. Following a made free throw by Kaydine Bent (Bronx, N.Y./Harry S. Truman), Brianna Thomas would hit a jumper to cut the lead. Saint Peter's would answer with a layup from Mostafa to give the Peacocks a 10-7 advantage.
Following back and forth trips from both teams, Kelsey Cruz would hit a layup to trim the deficit to one. Saint Peter's would answer with a made shot from Neechelle Ingram (Pocono Summit, Pa./Pocono Mountain East) to extend the lead. Anastasia Williams would make a free throw to cut Saint Peter's lead to one possession.
With the score 12-10 in favor of Saint Peter's, the Peacocks would go on a 9-5 run fueled by Antonia Smith (Bronx, N.Y./Dwight School), who would score seven of the nine points. Fairleigh Dickinson would respond, scoring six straight points behind the shooting of Valerie Oyakhilone to tie the game at 21.
Saint Peter's would respond with a traditional three-point play by May to give the Peacocks a 24-21 lead. A pair of free throws from Amanda Andrades would cut the deficit to one.
Following a Saint Peter's turnover, Andrades would convert a three-point play to give the Knights its first lead of the game. Saint Peter's would respond with a field goal from Bridget Whitfield (San Diego, Calif./La Costa Canyon) to tie the game at 26. A made free throw from Cruz would give Fairleigh Dickinson a 27-26 lead heading into half.
May lead all scorers in the first half with eight points. Bent recorded three points, four rebounds and three assists for the Peacocks.
In the second half, an opening free throw from May tied the game at 27-27. Both teams would exchange baskets to tie the game at 30. Next Saint Peter's possession, Bent would hit a layup to take a 32-30 lead. The Knights would take the lead behind a 3-pointer from Cruz to take a 33-32 lead. A jumper by Smith would give the Peacocks the lead. Fairleigh Dickinson would counter with another trey to regain the lead. Made free throws by Smith would tie the game up at 36.
A pair of free throws from Williams would give the Knights a two-point lead. Saint Peter's would answer with a 13-2 run, started by a free throw by Ingram and a jumper from May.
With the score 49-40, the Knights would score seven straight points behind made free throws by Williams and Cruz. Saint Peter's would stop the run with a field goal from Smith to give the Peacocks a 51-47 lead. Fairleigh Dickinson would respond with a jump to cut the deficit to a basket.
May would hit a layup to extend the Peacock lead. Back-to-back free throws by Fairleigh Dickinson would trim the Knights' deficit to one possession.
Fairleigh Dickinson would hang around in the final minutes of the game, but Saint Peter's would hold them off with its free throw shooting. The Peacocks would make eight of ten free throws in the final minute to capture the team's first win of the year.
Smith finished just shy of a double-double with 13 points and nine rebounds. Bent tallied eight points, eight rebounds and three assists.
Fairleigh Dickinson finished with two players in double-figures, including Cruz who finished 18 points.
Saint Peter's improves to 1-7 on the year and the Knights drop to 1-7.
The Peacocks return to action Dec. 19 when they travel to Connecticut to take on Yale University.
