NEW ROCHELLE, NY - Saint Peter's University women's basketball dropped its road contest against Iona on Monday afternoon, falling to the Gaels 69-59 at the end of regulation.
For the second consecutive game,
Kendrea Williams led the Peacocks on the offensive front, posting 20 points on 55 percent shooting, while also going 10-for-12 from the free-throw line. Williams was joined by sophomore
Briyanah Richardson and classmate
Gabrielle Harris in her double digit performance, with her teammates scoring 15 and 10, respectively.
How It Happened
- Through the first three minutes of play, the scoreboard read 4-4 in favor of the Gaels, with Williams finding the first two buckets for the Peacocks on a pair of layups.
- The Peacocks were able to gain their first lead of the game midway through the quarter on a successful free throw from Harris, until an eventual Iona three-pointer put the Gaels up 7-5.
- The Peacocks would regain the lead once again at the end of the first quarter, gaining a 12-10 advantage following the Peacocks' first successful triple of the day from Richardson and a pair of successful free throws from Williams.
- Harris would draw a foul on a made layup early in the second stanza, sinking the subsequent free throw to give the Peacocks a 17-14 lead.
- After a 5-0 run for Saint Peter's at the beginning of the second quarter, the Gaels were able to climb back and regain a 20-19 lead on a pair of free throws late in the half.
- The Peacocks, however, would keep the Gaels at bay for the remainder of the first half, scoring seven unanswered points, with two buckets off a pair of steals from Tyara McQueen in the final minute of play.
- A free throw from Zoe Pero at the beginning of the second half would see the Peacocks lead extend to 27-20. Iona would soon close the gap though, hitting a pair of triples and a layup to bring the score to 30-28 in favor of the Peacocks.
- Harris and Richardson made their presence known, scoring on two clutch midrange jumpers to keep the Gaels at bay midway through the third quarter. An 11-0 run late in the quarter, which included three consecutive made triples, would see the Gaels back on top 39-32 with just over two minutes remaining in the period.
- After the Gaels jumped out to a 12 point lead early in the fourth quarter, Richardson was able to knock down two shots from the charity stripe to put the Peacocks within 10, bringing the score to 46-36. Sammy Lochner would follow this up with a three of her own, hitting a big shot from the corner to cut Iona's lead to seven.
- Saint Peter's would go on a 7-2 run within a 20-second window toward the end of play, closing the gap once again to eight points. The Peacocks would not be able to catch the Gaels, ultimately falling 69-59.
Inside The Numbers:
- At the end of the first half, Williams led both sides with 11 points while shooting 4-6 from the field and 3 for 4 from the line.
- Williams's 20 point performance is the junior's fourth game of the season in which she has broken the 20-point mark.
- The Peacocks would round out the first half on a 7-0 run, forcing six Iona turnovers in less than four minutes late in the second quarter.
- Lochner's three-pointer counts for the senior's second of the season, with her previous shot from deep falling against Delaware State on Dec. 7.
Up Next:
- The Peacocks depart for Buffalo this week as the team gets ready to go up against Niagara on Jan. 23 at 7 p.m., followed by a contest at Canisius Jan. 25 at 2 p.m.
