Box Score WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Monmouth defeated Saint Peter's 64-56 in a Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) women's basketball contest on Sunday afternoon.
Alyssa Velles (Franklin, Conn. / Norwich Free Academy) paced Saint Peter's (3-22, 3-13 MAAC) with 15 points. Talah Hughes (Beacon, N.Y. / Beacon) scored 13 points while Antonia Smith (Bronx, N.Y. / Dwight School) tallied 11 points, three rebounds and three assists in the loss.
Jenny Horvatinovic fueled Monmouth (10-15, 6-10 MAAC) with 11 points, four rebounds and one assist. Sarah English added 11 points while Jasmine Walker and Christina Mitchell chipped in with nine points apiece.
Monmouth got it going offensively in the second half to pull away and earn the season-sweep. The Hawks shot 46.9% from the field in the second half and 51.8% overall.
Monmouth outscored the Peacocks 12-7 in the first 7:45 of the second half to take a double-digit lead and not look back.
Saint Peter's struggled from the field in the second half, converting on just 9-of-29 attempts. Turnovers also played a factor in the second half, committing 11 second half turnovers after just committing four in the first half.
Monmouth opened the game hitting five of its first seven shots to take a 12-4 lead. The Peacocks countered with a 12-4 run of their own to knot the contest at 16. The run was powered by Smith, who accounted for five points and one assist.
The Hawks regained the lead with a 9-0 run, capped off by a 3-ball from Horvatinovic to lead 25-16 with 6:30 left in the half. Saint Peter's stopped the drought with a pair of free throws from Bridget Whitfield (San Diego, Calif. / La Costa Canyon) to cut into the margin. The two teams ended the half exchanging baskets, with Monmouth taking a 31-26 advantage into halftime.
The Peacocks return to action on Feb. 19, when the team travels to Connecticut for an early morning contest against Quinnipiac. Opening tip is set for 11 a.m.
