POUGHKEEPSIE, NY - The Saint Peter's University women's basketball team fell to Marist, 96-76, on Saturday night in Poughkeepsie.
After leading 27-25 at the end of the first quarter, the Peacocks were held to 14 points in back-to-back quarters before ultimately dropping their Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) opener.
Taiah Thornton scored a team-high 23 points in the affair, while sophomore
Wil'lisha Jackson dropped a season-high 16 points.
How It Happened
- The Peacocks started off the game with a quick defensive rebound by Briyanah Richardson, followed by a successful mid-range jumper from Wil'lisha Jackson at the other end of the floor.
- Gabrielle Harris would score her first points of the day at the free throw line, sinking both shots after drawing a foul on an attempted layup, and putting the Peacocks up 12-4 midway through the first quarter
- The Peacocks would go up by 10 less than five minutes into the contest, leading 14-4 with just over six minutes left in the first quarter
- Taiah Thornton and Jackson would then go back-to-back on triples for a quick six points for the Peacocks
- Sammy Lochner would go on to hit her first three-pointer of the year with just over two minutes left in the opening stanza, giving the Peacocks a 27-19 lead
- Thornton got things started for Saint Peter's in the second quarter, scoring three back-to-back quick layups, giving the Peacocks a 33-27 advantage
- Tyara McQueen dealt her first assist of the day halfway through the second quarter, which Jackson was able to lay up and in.
- Jackson ended an 8-0 run by the Red Foxes with under two minutes remaining in the first half, cutting the Red Foxes' lead to 41-37
- Cinnamon Dockery would score her first points of the year with 11 seconds remaining in the first half, grabbing an offensive rebound on her own shot and putting it back up for the layup.
- Richardson would get her third and fourth points of the third quarter on two successful shots from the line.
- Thornton would end the third period for the Peacocks in the same fashion as she opened it, dropping in a layup over the outstretched arms of two Marist defenders.
- McQueen posted her first points of the night early in the final quarter of play, hitting a much needed shot from beyond the arc to bring the score to 71-58 in favor of the Red Foxes, followed by Dockery's first triple of the season on the following offensive phase
- The effort would be followed up with a triple from Harris, bringing the Peacocks to within 11 points of the Red Foxes.
- Dockery would set up Thornton on a beautiful bounce pass halfway through the fourth quarter to give her the easy bucket.
- Jackson dropped her second triple of the day with just over two minutes left in the game, putting the Peacocks over 70 points on the night before the final horn sounded.
Inside The Numbers:
- The Peacocks opened up the game scoring on 10 of 14 from the field in the first quarter, including three shots from deep.
- After sitting out for the first nine games of the season, Dockery checked in during the second quarter for her return to play, finishing the night with six points, four rebounds, and one assist.
- Marist took their first lead of the day after a successful layup late in the second quarter, giving the Red Foxes a 37-35 lead.
- The Peacocks were short-staffed yet again today, with only nine players dressing due to injury.
- Marist had the clear upper hand on the boards, grabbing 41 rebounds compared to 28 from Saint Peter's, including 16 offensive rebounds compared to seven from the Peacocks.
Coach's Quotes - Marc Mitchell:
- "I am proud of the way we fought hard with the best that the MAAC has to offer."
- "This was a learning experience for us, we will grow from it."
Up Next:
- The Peacocks return to the Garden State on Monday, Jan. 6, to host Siena in their first home conference game of the season in a 7 p.m. tip-off.
