JERSEY CITY, NJ - Saint Peter's University women's basketball secured its first conference win of the season Monday night, besting Siena 87-83 at the Yanitelli Center. In a game that featured six lead changes and 12 ties, the Peacocks were able to outlast their foes from Albany to secure their first MAAC victory of the season.
Redshirt junior
Gabrielle Harris and sophomore
Briyanah Richardson had dominant offensive performances, combining for 48 of the Peacocks' 87 points, scoring 25 and 23, respectively. Additionally, sophomore
Wil'lisha Jackson notched her first double-double of the season and the second of her career, scoring 12 points while grabbing 10 rebounds.
How It Happened
- Jackson grabbed two rebounds for the Peacocks immediately following the tip, getting one board on the defensive end, followed by one on the offensive end of the floor on the following phase.
- Jackson would go on to break a four-minute dry spell between 8:56 and 4:56 in the first quarter, hitting a pull-up jumper from the top of the key to bring the score to 8-6 in favor of the Saints.
- After drawing a foul on a shot from deep, redshirt junior Kendrea Williams sank all three shots from the line to regain a 9-8 lead for Saint Peter's.
- The Peacocks would extend their lead to 19-13 late in the opening period after a pair of successful free throws from Richardson, followed by a triple from the sophomore.
- Williams would open the scoring for Saint Peter's in the second quarter, drawing yet another foul off a shot from deep and hitting two of the three subsequent shots.
- Cinnamon Dockery got involved early in the second quarter, grabbing an offensive rebound and drawing a foul of the put-back, hitting both shots from the line.
- Taiah Thornton would hit her first triple of the day with 4:20 left in the first half, followed by an immediate steal from Dockery, who would take the ball and lay it up and in, putting the Peacocks ahead 32-29.
- Gabrielle Harris hit a key shot from deep late in the first half, pulling up from the corner off the assist from Richardson.
- Harris would give the Peacocks a 42-33 lead heading into the half after dropping in a layup with just six seconds remaining in the second stanza.
- Harris hit the first field goal of the second half for the Peacocks on an impressive left-handed tear-drop from inside the paint.
- Richardson knocked down her second triple of the game midway through the third quarter in a key moment to extend the Saint Peter's lead to 49-45.
- Williams notched her second steal of the day at the start of the fourth quarter, splitting two Saints defenders and bringing the ball up the floor to score on an uncontested layup.
- A layup from Jackson, followed by a tear-drop jumper from Thornton gave the Peacocks a five-point advantage with just over seven minutes left in the game.
- Harris dropped seven points for the Peacocks in one minute of play in the fourth quarter, including two trips to the line resulting in five successful free throws.
- Jackson would go on to grab a key rebound with 26 seconds remaining in the game to ice the game and sink two final shots from the line, putting the Peacocks up 85-80.
Inside The Numbers:
- Richardson's seven points in the first quarter all came within the last two minutes of the period, with the sophomore sinking four consecutive shots, including two free-throws.
- With her final rebound of the game, Jackson secured her first double-double of the season, dropping 12 points while grabbing 10 rebounds.
- Gabby Harris put on an incredible run in the fourth quarter, dropping 10 points in less than two minutes between 6:00 and 4:00.
- At the conclusion of the first half, 18 of the Peacocks' 42 points came off of turnovers, compared to seven from the visiting Saints.
- Williams set a new season-high in free-throw attempts and makes by the end of the first half, having gone 6-for-8 from the line at the end of the first 20 minutes.
- The victory marks the first time since 2016 that the Peacocks have won their MAAC home opener, most recently accomplishing the feat on Dec. 30, 2016 with a 78-66 win over Niagara.
Up Next:
- The Peacocks will remain at home for a Thursday (Jan. 9) afternoon matchup with Manhattan at 4 p.m. The contest will also double as MAAC Kid's Day Out, where parents are encouraged to bring out their children for a fun day with the Peacocks.
