Box Score Khadijah Young recorded a career-high 18 points, as the Saint Peter's University women's basketball team dropped a 67-55 decision to the Nigara University Purple Eagles.
The Peacocks trailed by as many as 24, but banged 5 treys (4 by Young) in the last 6 minutes to get within 12 points before time expired.
Saint Peter's failed to attain a lead at any point in the contest.
Young finished 6-10 from the field (6-9 from three-point range) en route to her career-best 18 points in 13 minutes off the bench.
Kristal Edwards also finished in double-figures; contributing 10 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals. Kaydine Bent also turned in a solid performance; finishing with 6 points and 7 rebounds- all of which were offensive.
Jesika Holmes had a game-high 8 rebounds.
The Peacocks struggled offensively to start off the game; managing just 3 points in the first seven and a half minutes to enter the under-12 media timeout trailing the Purple Eagles 13-3. Saint Peter's managed to knock down just 1 of 9 field goal attempts, and scored their third point on a free throw by Kristal Edwards.
Aziza May broke a near ten-minute scoring drought for the Peacocks, draining a 15-foot jumper in transition at 8:47 to make the score 19-5. May drained another basket, this time a trifecta, two minutes later to account for 5 of the squad's 8 points (22-8). That would spark a 7-2 run Peacock run and force a Niagara timeout (24-12 @ 5:02).
A trey by Khadijah Young with 1:31 left brought the visitors within 10 (29-19), but the hosts scored four straight to head into the half-time break leading 33-19.
Saint Peter's shot just 23.3% in the first half; going 7-30 from the floor. The Peacocks went 2-6 from three-point range (33.3%) and 3-4 from the foul line.
May and Edwards both tied for the team lead in the frame with 5 points each. Jesika Holmes grabbed 6 boards, while Kaydine Bent recorded 5.
Niagara knocked down 13 of 28 field goal attempts (46.4%) and went 3-5 from long distance (60%). The Purple Eagles went a perfect 4-4 from the line in the stanza.
Meghan McGuinnes led the hosts with 11 points in the half; going 3-3 from three-point range. Lauren Gatto also recorded double-figures in the stanza for Niagara; netting 10 points.
Niagara established a 19-point lead, their largest lead up until that point, just over two minutes into the second half following two made free throws by Lauren Gatto (40-21).
The Peacocks were able to get within 13 (44-31) after back-to-back lay-ups by Kaydine Bent, but the Purple Eagles responded with a 6-0 run (4 points by Gatto), to head into the under-12 media timeout with a 50-31 advantage.
The hosts established their first 20-point lead at 9:36; following a three-ball by Kelly Van Leeuwen (55-34). Over a minute and a half later the Purple Eagles established their largest lead (24) of the game.
With less than six minutes left in the second half however, a mix of relievers paced a Saint Peter's comeback to get the Peacocks within 12 points. The Peacocks out-scored Niagara 18-7; highlighted by 5 trifectas, before the contest concluded.
Overall, Saint Peter's shot 30.8% from the field, 39.1% from three-point range and 60% (9-23) from the line. Niagara shot 47.2%, 45.5% and 85.7%, respectively.
Both teams finished with 37 rebounds, while the Peacocks committed 16 turnovers to the Purple Eagle's 17.
Niagara was led by Gatto's 16 points.
Saint Peter's returns to action this Thursday, as they host Iona at 7pm in the Yanitelli Center.
