Box Score WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – After a furious comeback from Monmouth, a layup with 14 seconds left from Hala Mostafa (Cairo, Egypt/Modern Narmer Language School) propelled the Peacocks to a 68-63 victory in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play.
Kaydine Bent (Bronx, N.Y./Harry S. Truman) led the way for the Peacocks, scoring 19 points and grabbing 12 rebounds. Aziza May (South Euclid, Ohio/Charles F. Brush) finished with 13 points, six rebounds and six assists in the conference win.
In the first half, Helena Kurt kicked things off for the Hawks with a layup to give Monmouth the early 2-0 lead. Saint Peter's would respond with a 3-pointer from Aziza May to give the Peacocks a lead. Monmouth would respond with a field goal to retake the lead.
With the score 4-3, the Peacocks would seven straight points to take a 10-4 lead. The Hawks would answer, going on a 6-0 run fueled by Shira Schect to tie the game at 10.
The Peacocks would retake the lead behind a layup by Bent. Monmouth would go on to score five straight points, sparked by Sara English to give the Hawks a 15-12 advantage. Following a traditional 3-point play by Bent, she would make back-to-back layups to give Saint Peter's a 19-15 lead.
Monmouth would answer with back-to-back field goals from Jasmine Walker and English to tie the game at 19. A layup by Chevannah Paalvast would give the Hawks a one possession lead.
Saint Peter's would answer with five straight points, fueled by a layup from Neechelle Ingram (Pocono Summit, Pa./Pocono Mountain East) and a 3-pointer from the corner by Bridget Whitfield (San Diego, Calif./La Costa Canyon) to take a 24-21 advantage. Both teams would exchange baskets with the Peacocks out in front 26-25.
Back-to-back jumpers from the Peacocks would extend the lead to six. Monmouth would answer with a jumper from Jenny Horvatinovic to cut the Hawks deficit. Ingram would a field goal with 14 seconds left to give Saint Peter's a 33-27 lead going into halftime.
In the second half, Monmouth opened up with a jump shot from Paalvast to trim the deficit. Saint Peter's would respond with a 15-6 run, fueled by two 3-pointers from Whitfield to give the Peacocks a 50-35 lead.
Monmouth would begin to battle back, going on a 7-3 run to cut the deficit to single digits. A 3-pointer from Schecht and back-to-back layups from Jamiyah Bethune would cut the deficit to five. Saint Peter's would answer with three straight points to take a 57-49 lead.
After trading free throws, a layup from Bethune would cut the deficit to six. A pair of free throws from Bent would give the Peacocks a 60-52 lead. The Hawks would answer with a 3-ball from Kasey Chambers to cut the deficit. Following a free throw from Antonia Smith (Bronx, N.Y./Dwight School), Bethune would make another shot to chip away at the deficit. Smith would hit another pair of free throws to hold on to a 63-60 lead. Monmouth would complete the comeback, knocking down back-to-back 3-pointers to tie the game at 63.
With 14 seconds left, Mostafa received an inbounds pass from Smith, where she went up for the layup and got the foul call. With five seconds remaining, Smith would seal the deal with a pair free throws to secure the 68-63 victory.
Monmouth finished with three players in double-figures, including Bethune, who scored all of her 14 points in the second half.
With the win, Saint Peter's improves to 2-8 overall and 1-0 in Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) play while Monmouth falls to 1-11 overall and 0-1 in conference play.
The Peacocks return to action on Dec. 31, when they close out the calendar year at the Yanitelli Center against Iona.
