FAIRFIELD, CT - The Saint Peter's University women's basketball team dropped a 67-48 decision to a defensively dominant Fairfield University team on Saturday afternoon in Connecticut. After getting off to a slower than usual start, the Peacocks were unable to regain their footing against the Stags.
Following a highly productive second half, the Peacocks had two players break into double-digit scoring, including
Gabrielle Harris and
Taiah Thornton, who put up 15 and 13 points on the day, respectively. Also, before leaving the game early with an injury,
Kendrea Williams would score nine key points for the Peacocks at the beginning of the second half.
How It Happened
- The Stags jumped out to an early lead in Saturday's contest, going on a 10-0 run over the first five minutes of action.
- The Peacocks eventually gained momentum off a triple from Thornton midway through the opening stanza, followed by a successful layup from Harris, bringing the score to 10-5.
- Saturday's first quarter ended in a 13-point deficit for the Peacocks, with the Stags heading into the break ahead 18-5.
- A stout Stags defense kept the Peacocks at bay for the first two minutes of the second quarter, before Wil'lisha Jackson broke the dry spell with a deep shot from inside the arc.
- Despite a four point run for Harris midway through the second quarter, back-to-back triples from Fairfield would give the momentum back to the Stags, along with a 32-11 advantage with three minutes remaining in the half. Through the final five minutes of the first half, Fairfield continued to push the pace, putting up 14 in contrast to four from Saint Peter's.
- Williams would have a massive start to the second half for the Peacocks, scoring nine straight points on two successful triples and three consecutive shots from the line after being fouled on her third attempt, bringing the score to 40-24 in favor of the Stags.
- Through the first six minutes of the third quarter, the Peacocks outscored the Stags 13-11 while shooting 50 percent from the floor, including contributions from Williams, Harris, and Thornton.
- The Peacocks would enter the final quarter trailing 37-55, which was their first time being within 20 points of the Stags since midway through the second quarter.
- Saint Peter's would cut the Fairfield lead to 15 in the beginning of the final quarter, following successful shots from Harris, Thornton, and Briyanah Richardson, which would bring the score to 59-44.
- The fourth quarter was a back-and-forth affair between the two sides, with Fairfield edging out the Peacocks 12-11 on points scored, but the Peacocks proved to be the more efficient team in the final 10 minutes, shooting 40 percent from the field compared to 31.3 percent from the Stags. The final score read 67-48 for the home team, and will prove to be a valuable learning experience for the Peacocks.
Inside The Numbers:
- The Peacocks got back on track in the third quarter, outscoring their opponents 22-17 and putting up more points in the third period than in the entire first half.
- Coming into this game, the Fairfield defense was holding opponents to a league-best 36.5 points per game average, which the Peacocks surpassed by double digits.
- Thus far this season, the Peacocks are the only MAAC team to break 40 points against the Stags.
- Senior Sammy Lochner recorded a season-high three assists during Saturday's game, and played a vital role in slowing down the Fairfield offense in the second half, providing constant pressure for the Peacocks.
Up Next:
- The Peacocks will get set to welcome hOURglass rival Monmouth on Tuesday, Jan. 14 for a 7 p.m. tip-off.
