NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, NY - The Saint Peter's University women's basketball team fell to Niagara on Thursday night, 97-89. After trailing by as much as 18 points throughout the second half, the Peacocks were able to cut the lead to single digits, getting within six points during the last minutes of play, before ultimately falling by eight.
In a game that featured four double-digit scorers for the Peacocks, redshirt junior
Taiah Thornton headed up the effort, scoring 25 points while shooting nearly 60 percent from the floor and going 5-for-7 from three-point range. Two sophomores recorded double-doubles on the night;
Wil'lisha Jackson matched her season high of 16 points while grabbing a team-high 12 rebounds, while
Briyanah Richardson scored 14 and hauled in 10 rebounds. Redshirt junior
Kendrea Williams also scored 14 points while grabbing three boards and dishing two assists.
How It Happened
- Less than four minutes into the opening stanza, the Peacocks found themselves in an 8-2 deficit until Kendrea Williams was able to hit a baseline jumper to cut Niagara's lead to four.
- Wil'lisha Jackson kept the Peacocks in the game early, recording six points in the first six minutes of the game, bringing the Peacocks within three points of the Purple Eagles, who maintained a 13-10 lead midway through the quarter.
- Jackson gave the Peacocks their first lead of the game on a tear-drop from the paint with less than two minutes left in the quarter, putting Saint Peter's ahead 20-17 and dropping her 10th point of the period in the process.
- The two sides went basket-for-basket through the start of the second quarter, with the score still level at 26-26 with five minutes left in the half.
- The Purple Eagles would eventually edge out to a nine-point advantage, leading the Peacocks, 41-32, with less than two minutes remaining in the half.
- An 8-0 run from the Purple Eagles at the beginning of the third quarter pushed the hosts out to a 17-point lead (53-36).
- Richardson would eventually break Niagara's run with a successful free throw, followed by a pivotal three-point shot from Thornton less than a minute later. Williams would also add to the three-point effort, draining a shot from beyond the arc and cutting the opposition's lead to 54-47.
- Saint Peter's would eventually cut the Niagara lead to just two points off the strength of three triples, including back-to-back three-pointers from Thornton midway through the third quarter, making the score 57-55 in favor of Niagara.
- Niagara would take the momentum back and built itself a nearly 20-point lead (80-63) early in the final frame. Thornton would do her best to keep the Peacocks in the contest, scoring five consecutive points late in regulation.
- Zoe Pero would knock down her first two points of the game off a pair of free throws, sparking a 9-0 Peacocks late in the quarter, capped off by a triple from Tyara McQueen. That cut the Niagara lead to eight in the final minutes, but that was the closest the Peacocks would get the rest of the way until the final horn sounded.
Inside The Numbers:
- Jackson's first quarter run included 10 points from the sophomore in less than three minutes, while going 5-for-6 from the floor during this time.
- Thursday's game marked the first time this season in which two Saint Peter's players have recorded double-doubles in the same contest.
- At the conclusion of the first half, Saint Peter's held the advantage in points in the point with 30 to Niagara's 28, as well as fast break points with 10 compared to nine from the Purple Eagles.
Coach's Quotes - Marc Mitchell:
- "We are proud of our players battling tonight."
- "We are going through some growing pains. However, we are very positive that the future looks bright for the program."
Up Next:
- The Peacocks remain in Western New York for a matchup with the Canisius Golden Griffins on Saturday, Jan. 25, in a 2 p.m. start.
